CONTENTS
- 1. Registration as a Person of Distinguished Service to the State | Concept and Eligible Persons
- - Scope of Persons of National Merit
- 2. Registration as a Person of Distinguished Service to the State | Registration Procedure and Requirements
- - Registration Review Procedure
- 3. National Merit Registration | Honors and Support Available After Registration
- 4. National Merit Registration | Practical Points to Note
- - Were You Denied Merit Registration?
- 5. National Merit Registration | A Practical Guide for Registration
- - Preparations Before Applying
- - Understanding the Flow of the Registration Procedure
- - Strategy for Responding to Disapproval
- - Points to Note When Your Disability Grade Falls Below the Threshold
- - If You Need Help with National Merit Registration
1. Registration as a Person of Distinguished Service to the State | Concept and Eligible Persons
Registration as a person of distinguished service to the State refers to the procedure of proving injury, death, or illness caused by an act of sacrifice or contribution for the State or the public, and being registered as a person of distinguished service to the State under the law.
Once registration is completed, the person may, after review by the veterans affairs authorities, receive various benefits such as compensation, medical and welfare support, education, and employment support.
Scope of Persons of National Merit
A person of national merit refers to a person who has sacrificed for or contributed to the Republic of Korea and who is designated as an eligible person under laws such as the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons of National Merit.
To apply for registration as a person of national merit, the requirements set out below must be met, and the subjects of registration are the individual and their bereaved family.
Persons of national merit can be classified into persons of distinguished service to independence, persons of national merit, and persons eligible for veterans compensation.
The following persons, along with their families or bereaved families, may be registered as persons of national merit and may receive the honorable treatment and support prescribed by law.
•Persons of distinguished service to independence: patriotic martyrs and patriots
• Soldiers and police killed in action
Soldiers, police officials, or military civilian employees who sustained an injury and died while performing combat or duties equivalent to combat
• Soldiers and police wounded in action
Soldiers, police officials, or military civilian employees who sustained an injury while performing combat or duties equivalent to combat and were discharged or retired, and who were assessed in a physical examination as having a disability grade of 1 through 7
• Soldiers and police who died in the line of duty
Soldiers, police officials, or firefighting officials who died while performing duties or undergoing education and training directly related to the defense and security of the nation or the protection of citizens' lives and property
• Soldiers and police wounded in the line of duty
Soldiers, police officials, or firefighting officials who sustained an injury while performing duties or undergoing education and training directly related to the defense and security of the nation or the protection of citizens' lives and property and were discharged or retired, and who were assessed in a physical examination as having a disability grade of 1 through 7
• Recipients of military or public service merit awards
• Korean-Japanese student volunteer soldiers in the June 25 War
• Persons killed, injured, or recognized for service in the April 19 Revolution
• Public officials who died in the line of duty
• Public officials wounded in the line of duty
In addition, eligibility requirements exist for persons who died or were injured while contributing to national and social development, military civilian employees who took part in combat, persons recognized as persons of national merit under individual statutes, and persons of national merit who receive treatment equivalent to that of June 18 freedom-wounded persons.
▶Excluded subjects (cases where registration is restricted)
Registration as a person of national merit is not permitted when death or injury results from the following causes.
-Cases arising from the individual's intent or gross negligence, or violation of statutes or a superior's orders
-Cases where an accident occurred while away from official duty (unauthorized absence, while out, and the like)
-Cases arising from private acts unrelated to the performance of duty, such as horseplay or fighting
2. Registration as a Person of Distinguished Service to the State | Registration Procedure and Requirements
The following is an overview of the procedure and requirements for registration as a person of distinguished service to the State.
▶Applicant
-The person themselves
-The bereaved family (the deceased's spouse, children, parents, and other heirs in statutory order)
-An agent (such as an attorney holding a power of attorney)
▶Timing of Application
-An application may be filed at any time after the grounds for sacrifice or contribution arise, but it is generally advantageous to apply when the facts are easier to prove.
-A point in time around the end of service, when the causation with facts that occurred during the performance of official duties is easier to prove, is appropriate.
▶Documents to Submit
-Application for registration as a person of distinguished service to the State
-Certificate of military service record, discharge certificate, or certificate of service
-Materials related to a service-related injury (medical certificate, surgical records, and the like)
-Accident report and written statement (where applicable)
-Other supporting materials required by the veterans affairs authorities
※ In the case of death, a death certificate and materials proving the family relationship (such as a family relation certificate and a marriage relation certificate) are additionally required.
Registration Review Procedure
The following is an overview of the procedure for registration as a person of distinguished service to the State.
1. Application for registration
2. Request for verification of the facts constituting the requirements
3. Verification and notification of the facts constituting the requirements
4. Request for veterans affairs review
5. Notification of the review result
6. Guidance on undergoing a physical examination
7. Undergoing the physical examination
8. Transfer of the physical examination result
9. Determination and notification of the disability grade
10. Inquiry into any criminal record
11. Notification of the decision on registration
3. National Merit Registration | Honors and Support Available After Registration
Once registration as a person of national merit is completed, the following benefits may be received.
Persons of national merit and their bereaved families receive compensation such as pensions, living adjustment allowances, nursing allowances, and lump-sum death payments, which are paid differentially according to the assigned grade.
However, the benefits may be applied differentially depending on the disability grade and other factors.
Category | Main Support Content |
Economic support | Compensation, living adjustment allowances, nursing allowances, and more |
Medical support | Use of veterans hospitals, reduction of medical expenses |
Educational support | Reduction of or support for university tuition for the individual and their children |
Housing support | Priority for public rental housing, additional points for housing subscription |
4. National Merit Registration | Practical Points to Note
Let us review the points to note regarding national merit registration.
While anyone may file an application for national merit registration, the key elements are 'satisfying the requirements' and 'recognition of a disability grade.'
Registration as a person of national merit is not a simple application; final registration is granted only after the registration requirements prescribed by law are met and a disability grade assessment is passed.
In other words, the mere fact of 'having been injured during combat or duties equivalent to combat' is not sufficient; a disability grade must be obtained through a physical examination conducted at a veterans hospital.
In addition, the Veterans Review Committee examines the causal relationship between official duty and the injury, and the physical examination at the veterans hospital evaluates whether the injury corresponds to a disability grade.
If either of the two fails to meet the standard, registration as a person of merit cannot be granted.
In particular, the physical examination at the veterans hospital is the core procedure for determining the grade and is conducted very strictly.
Were You Denied Merit Registration?
The grounds for denial of merit registration vary, and administrative measures may be pursued in the event of disapproval.
▶Grounds for denial of registration
-Insufficient causal relationship with official duty
-Disability grade below the threshold
-Gross negligence
-Accidents arising from private acts, and the like
▶Procedure for objecting to denial of national merit registration
An objection must be filed within 30 days from the date of receiving notice of the disposition result.
1. Notice of disposition
2. Confirmation of the objection deadline
3. Preparation of the written objection
-Required items: the applicant's personal information, the content of the disposition being objected to, and the grounds for objection (specific and verifiable grounds must be stated)
4. Preparation of supporting documents
-In addition to the written objection, supplementary medical certificates, medical records, accident reports, written statements, and the like
5. Submission of the application
-Place of submission: the competent veterans branch office or the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
6. Deliberation by the Veterans Review Committee
-The submitted objection is reconsidered through deliberation and resolution by the Veterans Review Committee
-The Veterans Review Committee reexamines the medical assessment and the facts
7. Notice of result
-The decision on the objection is notified in writing
-Preparing the written objection: rather than simply asserting that the result is unfair, the objection should be set out logically, focusing on the statutory registration requirements and the causal relationship.
-Supplementing evidence: if the ground for rejection was insufficient evidence, it is important to obtain additional medical certificates, initial examination records, and physicians' written opinions from the relevant hospital.
-Objection deadline: the 30-day period is applied strictly in administrative practice, so care should be taken not to miss it.
-Expert consultation: where specialized issues such as a disability grade below the threshold or recognition of negligence are involved, it may help to obtain the assistance of an attorney specializing in this area.
5. National Merit Registration | A Practical Guide for Registration
If you intend to prepare for national merit registration on your own, it may help to use the following items as a checklist in your preparation.
Preparations Before Applying
□Confirm and complete the application form
□Prepare your military service record, discharge certificate, and certificate of service
□Obtain initial examination records, medical certificates, and treatment records related to the injury or illness
(※ Including records made during military service can be advantageous)
□Obtain reports and witness statements that can prove the accident occurred during the performance of official duty
□When a bereaved family member applies for a deceased person, prepare a family relationship certificate, marriage relationship certificate, and the like
Understanding the Flow of the Registration Procedure
□Registration application through a veterans branch office or online
□Request to verify the facts from the military unit or administrative agency
□Deliberation by the Veterans Review Committee on whether the matter is related to official duty
□Physical examination and disability grade assessment at a veterans hospital
□Decision on registration and notification
Strategy for Responding to Disapproval
□Receive the written confirmation of the grounds for disapproval
□File an objection with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (within 30 days)
□Prepare to file an administrative appeal or administrative litigation (within 90 days)
□Reorganize materials and prepare a written opinion for the appeal procedure
Points to Note When Your Disability Grade Falls Below the Threshold
□If necessary, additional materials such as a written opinion from a private specialist physician or an opinion on long-term treatment must be obtained
□If you contest an assessment of a disability grade below the threshold, you may request a reexamination or file an administrative appeal or litigation
If You Need Help with National Merit Registration
Registration as a person of national merit is a system that gives effect to the State's duty guaranteed by the Constitution, but the registration review itself is strict and centers on legal judgment.
Final registration is possible only with objective evidentiary materials, a causal relationship, and systematic proof of one's physical condition, so a meticulous approach is needed from the materials preparation stage.
At Daeryun Law Firm, an attorney specializing in military matters who is well versed in military-related systems and service records, together with an attorney specializing in administrative matters with extensive experience in responding to administrative dispositions, forms a task force response team, enabling one-stop legal support from the application stage through objections, administrative appeals, and administrative litigation.
So that devotion to the nation may lead to due honor, Daeryun will stand with you to the end.
If you are experiencing difficulties in the national merit registration process, please consult Daeryun, which operates a 365-day, 24-hour emergency consultation system, right away.
