Reality of North Korean Female Soldier Salary

Former North Korean Female Soldier, Lee So-Yeon
Poor Conditions of North Korean Soldiers

Defector Lee So-yeon has revealed the grim reality of life in North Korea.

On the 23rd, human rights activist Pastor Kim Sung-eun and defector Lee So-yeon appeared on KBS 1TV’s “Morning Yard – Tuesday Invitations”.

Lee So-yeon shared that she served as a female soldier in North Korea for about 10 years. She said, “The monthly salary is 280 North Korean won. A piece of candy in North Korea costs 100 won. Many women volunteer for the military to lessen the financial burden on their families, as the military provides uniforms and food during service.”

Considering that the average monthly wage for North Korean workers is 3,000 won, this is a very small amount.

North Korean soldiers are in a precarious situation with low salaries and poor treatment.

Last year, the North Korean military reduced the daily grain ration per soldier from 620g to 580g. It’s the first time since the 2000s that the official ratio of soldiers has been reduced. Some military officers and their families in the 7th Division of the North Korean military are reportedly starving due to a lack of food, with instances of malnutrition.

Female soldiers, especially, confront frequent sexual violence by male superiors. However, female soldiers cannot refuse their demands, fearing the imposition of arduous tasks and associated disadvantages if they refuse.

Meanwhile, Lee So-Yeon is a former first sergeant of the 4th Division of the North Korean military.

In South Korea, a first sergeant can serve for 20-30 years whereas one can become a first sergeant within a set number of years, within 10 years, and then retire as is.

Although volunteering is the principle in the North Korean female military, conscription is also concurrently enforced.

By. Ji Myoung Han