Registration as a Person of Distinguished Service to the State or a Person Eligible for Veteran's Compensation: Application Procedure and Documents

Procedure

1. 1. Identify the application type — person of distinguished service to the State or person eligible for veteran's compensation

   The category of person of distinguished service to the State under Article 4 of the Act on the Honorable Treatment of and Support for Persons of Distinguished Service to the State covers injury or death directly related to the performance of duties such as the protection of the State and national security. If the connection with duty is weaker than that, the case is reviewed under the requirements for a person eligible for veteran's compensation. The review criteria and the compensation differ depending on which type is applied for, so first set out how the accident occurred.

2. 2. Secure evidence of the causal relationship

   Collect materials that show the relationship between official duty and the injury, such as military hospital records, unit accident records, medical records and statements from fellow service members. Military records are often obtained through an information disclosure request. There are cases where an injury during physical training or an accident-related herniated intervertebral disc was recognized depending on the evidence, so the specificity of the materials is important.

3. 3. Apply for registration — review of whether the requirements are met

   Submit the registration application and evidence to the office of patriots and veterans affairs having jurisdiction over your address, and it reviews whether the requirements are met. When a bereaved family member applies, the name and seal or the signature of the bereaved family member with first priority is required. Where there are unavoidable circumstances, a written consent is submitted instead.

4. 4. Physical examination — determination of the disability rating

   After a decision that the requirements are met, the applicant undergoes a physical examination at a Veterans Hospital or similar institution to determine the disability rating. Disability ratings run from Grade 1 to Grade 7. If no disability rating is given in the physical examination, the application for registration is deemed dismissed even if the requirements were recognized.

Required documents

• Registration application (person of distinguished service to the State or person eligible for veteran's compensation)
• Documents confirming service, such as a certificate of military service record or a discharge certificate
• Military hospital records, medical records and records of the circumstances of the accident (obtained through an information disclosure request)
• Medical certificate, copies of medical records, and materials on causation such as photographs and written statements
• For an application by a bereaved family member: family relation certificate, and written consent of the bereaved family member with first priority

Fees

There is no government fee for the registration application itself. Fees for document preparation and organization of materials are generally around several hundred thousand won in the market, and vary with the scope of information disclosure requests and record analysis. We will advise after a consultation, based on the complexity of the matter.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Act on the Honorable Treatment of and Support for Persons of Distinguished Service to the State, Article 4
• Act on the Honorable Treatment of and Support for Persons of Distinguished Service to the State, Article 6
• Act on the Honorable Treatment of and Support for Persons of Distinguished Service to the State, Article 6-3
• Act on the Honorable Treatment of and Support for Persons of Distinguished Service to the State, Article 6-4
• Act on Support for Persons Eligible for Veteran's Compensation, Article 2
• Administrative Appeals Act, Article 27

Checked against the statutes on 2026-09-30

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• Without records showing the causal relationship between official duty and the injury, the applicant is at a disadvantage in the eligibility review. Secure the records before applying.
• First check the deadline for contesting the decision stated in the decision notice. An administrative appeal must be filed within 90 days from the date you became aware of the disposition.

Frequently asked questions