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Several translation errors were discovered in a Ministry of National Defense glossary designed to assist soldiers with limited proficiency in the Korean language, sparking questions about the ministry's vetting procedures as the ranks of troops from diverse backgrounds continue to expand. In August, the ministry announced it had created the glossary to clarify 562 common military terms, such as "salute" and "roll call," for soldiers with overseas permanent residency and those hailing from multicultural backgrounds.

These terms were compiled from observations of a soldier's daily routine and translated into English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Japanese, subsequently posted on the Military Manpower Administration's website and distributed in print to new recruits. However, the glossary was marred by a plethora of translation blunders. In the English version, the Korean term for "petty officer" was erroneously rendered as "pretty officer."

The Korean phrase signifying "checking the chamber for rounds after firing" was instead translated as "Weather conditions such as rain, snow, or strong winds that restrict activities," an unrelated passage concerning weather.