Delayed defense payments for 2025 being executed in order

▲ Defense ministry spokesperson Chung Binna speaks during a press briefing on Dec. 16, 2025. (Yonhap)

defense budget-payment

Delayed defense payments for 2025 being executed in order

SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Friday delayed defense payments that were supposed to be carried out by the end of 2025 are being executed in order.

Controversy erupted over the ministry's failure to pay about 1.2 trillion won (US$25 million) in defense-related expenditures to military units and defense contractors by the end of last year.

The undisbursed funds comprised around 500 billion won due for the defense ministry, and 700 billion won for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

"The (unpaid) funds are being executed as of 9 a.m., and they are being allocated to each military and institution," ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said at a press briefing.

The ministry earlier said it had requested the finance ministry for the budget on time, but the payment process was delayed due to a temporary shortage of funds as demand for spending by government ministries was concentrated at the year-end.

The finance ministry has said funds for the payments of the 2025 defense expenditures will be provided as quickly as possible within this week.

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