Zippers and Velcro are to replace buttons on military upper garments, and designs will be changed to maximize camouflage and make them more comfortable, the Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday.

The ministry plans to replace the military’s current four-color camouflage uniforms, first introduced in 1991, with garments featuring five-color patterns.

The new uniforms will not require soldiers to tuck upper garments inside their pants, making them more comfortable to move in, an official said.

Some units, including the 17th Army Division, have been testing the new uniforms since last September. Soldiers will start receiving the uniforms in July. 

Officials expect it to take about two years for all soldiers to wear the new uniforms.

The new combat caps will also have the same five-color digital patterns. Ear covers can be attached to the new caps to keep out the cold. A black-green beret for Army soldiers will also be introduced.

The colors of the insignias for the Army, Air Force and Navy soldiers will also be changed to a wood color.

“We have tried to maximize the daytime and nighttime camouflage effect while developing the new uniforms. We also tried to enhance elasticity, comfort, antibacterial properties and others to make soldiers feel more comfortable with their uniforms,“ a ministry official said.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)