South Korean military gives 30 days of special leave to soldiers who helped guide defectors

It has recently been revealed that the South Korean military has given 30 days of special leave to army and marine soldiers in recognition of their efforts in facilitating the defection of North Korean soldiers and residents.
According to the South Korean Army on the 1st, a private named Woo from the 3rd Battalion (GOP Battalion) of the 56th Brigade, 22nd Division, was involved in a defection operation by the North Korean army on the 20th of last month.
In recognition of his contributions to the Army, he received a commendation from the division commander and a special 30-day leave. On the 3rd of this month, his unit decided to drive him home in a unit vehicle when he was on leave.
The Chief of Army Staff is also expected to present a commendation to the soldiers. According to Army barracks rules, soldiers cannot take more than 16 days of reward leave during their service. However, general officers (brigadier generals and above) can take more than 16 days of reward leave.
In the case of a commander of the South Korean Army who has made a special achievement such as guiding a defector, he can be granted a reward leave of up to one month during his term of service.
The defector defected across the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the area. The defector passed through a small path near the East Sea Line and reached the 22nd Army Division's operational area. Private First Class Woo tracked and monitored the defector's progress southward,
It is said that this contributed to the success of the guide operation. Also, on the 8th of last month, a North Korean resident defected to South Korea across the neutral waters of the Han River estuary.
For his contribution to the defection operation and for being the first to discover the resident, he was given a special 30-day leave. This leave was awarded to him by Jeong Ju-beom, commander of the 2nd Marine Division, who visited his unit and personally explained the leave to him.
The unit also provided Park with a car to drive home when he was on leave and paid him a bonus.