Conscription in South Korea: An Overview of Military Enlistment and Service

- Author: Good Job Korean team 
- Editor: Good Job Korean team 

👍Contents (Click to navigate instantly)
✅ What are the requirements for enlistment?
✅  What are the types of service and how long is the enlistment?
✅  Can Korean men be exempted from serving in the military?
✅  What is military deferment and for how long can Korean men delay their military service?
✅  What happens if Korean men attempt to avoid military service?
✅  How does mandatory military service affect Korean men and society?

 If you have been following Korean entertainment news, you may have seen a lot of male celebrities announcing their military enlistment every year. What exactly does that mean, and why do they have to enlist?

 In 1957, conscription in South Korea was established and this military service (군대) was made mandatory for all able-bodied male citizens in South Korea aged between 18 and 35. Typically, women are not required to perform military service, however, they may voluntarily join the military. The Korean military is a vital component of the country’s national security and it is crucial to defend against potential threats from North Korea.

 Note: Visit GoodJobKorean.com for a free Hangul course!

 Korean military enlistment is considered a national duty and a rite of passage for every Korean man as the constitution states in Article 39, “All citizens shall have the duty of national defense under the conditions as prescribed by the Act.”

 As military enlistment is made mandatory, men are expected to put their education, careers, and personal lives on hold for up to two years. Thus, many young men choose to delay their college education or career pursuits until after their military service is completed. Popular actor Park Seo Joon (박서준) was one of the very few who enlisted before their entertainment debut at 19 years old. It was said that he did not know what he wanted to do after high school hence he went on to the military while he thought about what he wanted to do after. Soon after discharge, upon encouragement from his friends, he joined the entertainment industry. I’m sure many of you are glad of his decision!

Park Seo Joon *Image from Yahoo! News

What are the requirements for enlistment?

 The military enlistment process in South Korea is thorough and rigorous. By law, all Korean men are required to perform military service when he turns 18 years old. He will be enlisted for “first citizen service,” which means he is legally responsible for military duty but is not required to serve yet.

 When he turns 19 or in some cases, 20 years old, he is required to go for a medical examination for an impairment and disability evaluation to determine if he is suitable for military service. Those who are found to have medical and mental issues may be exempted from the service, or be assigned to alternative services such as public/citizen service, public library, post office, etc.

 Generally, there are 7 physical grades according to the Military Service Act (병역법), and the types of service depend on the grades these men are put in:

What are the types of service and how long is the enlistment?

 After passing the medical examination, recruits have to undergo a five-week training program, which is physically and mentally challenging. In this program, they are taught military discipline, physical fitness, basic weapon handling, and other essential skills needed for military service. Recruits are trained to work in teams, to follow orders, and to develop leadership skills.

 It is only after this basic training would the recruits be assigned to their respective units and receive further training based on their branch of service. Those in combat units would undergo more rigorous training, which includes field training, tactical drills, and marksmanship training.

Jin and his group of police recruits, circa 2015.

The length of the military service depends on the branch of the military and the types of service. (as of 2023)

 After Grades 1, 2, and 3 recruits (현역) are done with their conscriptions, they are automatically placed on the reserve roster and are obligated to attend 3 days of annual military training for 5 years.

 Grade 4 recruits (사회복무요원 or 공익) are assigned to non-active duties. There is also a group of professionals who are physically and psychologically healthy that serve non-active roles or supplementary services (보충역). They are assigned to positions based on their special skills, such as public health doctors, lawyers, researchers, etc.

 Our Korean teacher, Jin, served as a police officer for 21 months. Enlisted when he was 20 years old (or in Korean age 22 years old), Jin was assigned to the police force. Initially, when Jin joined the police station, there happened to be a vacancy in the kitchen. With no prior experience whatsoever in cooking, Jin volunteered and took up the challenge in hopes of learning something new. From only knowing how to fry eggs, he can now cook a spread of food! 😋*

*Read here to know more about the Korean age!

Can Korean men be exempted from serving in the military?

 In Korean society, it is believed that successful athletes, classical musicians, and ballet performers who have won international medals or prizes, such as in the Olympics or concours, are often exempt from military service. However, they are still required to undergo three weeks of basic military training and serve as "Art-Sports personnel" (예술체육요원) instead of active-duty roles.

 Nevertheless, "Art-Sports personnel" are often perceived as being exempt from certain military obligations, as they are not required to be assigned to a specific military unit. Their primary duty is to dedicate themselves to their respective sports or art activities for a period of 34 months, along with completing 544 hours of voluntary activities.

 Among the most notable athletes who have been granted such exemptions include Son Heung Min (for his leadership in winning the 2018 Asian Games gold medal in football), Chung Hyeon (for winning the 2014 Asian Games gold medal in tennis), Lee Yong Dae (badminton), Park Tae Hwan (swimming), and the football team at 2012 Summer Olympics.

Son Heung Min *Image from The Guardian

 While this exemption policy is introduced to encourage the national athletes to win more medals, it has caused a public outrage as it was deemed unfair to everybody else. This policy has also resulted in coaches being accused of selecting players who are desperate to avoid military service over the best athletes.

 Besides that, those who have severe disabilities or illnesses, those who have lost a parent or a sibling during military service, and those who have been awarded national honors for exceptional achievements are also exempted from performing their military duties. The most notable example is Kim Woo Bin (김우빈) who was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in 2017.

What is military deferment and for how long can Korean men delay their military service?

 When a Korean man turns 18 years old, his compulsory military service automatically comes into effect. However, there are some situations that allow them to delay the start of their service until the age of 28.

 Korean men may request a postponement for reasons such as disease, mental or physical disorder, disaster, employment, education, or family issues, etc. as prescribed by the Act. For instance, men who set up start-ups, or are pursuing graduate and post-graduate studies abroad, are eligible to apply for a deferment.

 In December 2020, a law that grants a two-year extension for K-pop and K-entertainment artists was passed. This means these artists are allowed to enlist in the military at 30 years old instead of 28 years old. This exception is made for “outstanding artists” who “increase the value of the national brand.”

 This law is famously coined as “BTS law” as the lawmakers introduced a bill to revise the Military Service Act after 방탄년단 (BTS) became the first South Korean group to top the United States Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with their song “Dynamite.” BTS’s oldest member Kim Seok Jin (Jin), was turning 28 when the law was passed. This law allowed him to defer his enlistment for another two years. The boy band’s seven members are currently the only artists who qualify for the deferment under this new law amendment.

 As BTS had a huge impact on the music industry worldwide and was actively contributing greatly to the spread of the Korean language, culture, and the Hallyu Wave, there were talks of granting the group of seven an exemption. However, their record label Big Hit Entertainment announced in October 2022 that Jin had withdrawn his enlistment deferral request. He became the first member of the group to join military service, with the others to be enlisted later on.

BTS illustration by @cadel.kipp on Instagram, shared with permission

What happens if Korean men attempt to avoid military service?

 Generally, men who try to evade mandatory military service or receive special treatment either by using their family wealth or political connection are heavily criticized by the public. Draft evasion is a punishable crime. South Korean men who refuse the draft without justifiable reasons will be sent to prison for up to three years.

 In March 2023, 137 people were charged for attempting to evade the country’s mandatory military service, including a number of local military brokers who helped men attempt draft evasion. These local brokers charged a fee between 3 million to 10 million won to craft fake scenarios, such as disabilities or symptoms of epilepsy during military examinations, to help draft evaders to be disqualified from military service.

 For many Korean celebrities, military service is seen as a career interruption, especially when they have to enlist at the peak of their popularity. Some of them worry about not being able to achieve pre-enlistment fame once they return. Thus, a number of Korean celebrities tried dodging military service. However, these celebrities who are caught attempting to dodge military service face public backlash, leading to their plummeting popularity. For example, rapper Ravi, model-actor Song Seung Heon, and actor Kim Mu Yeol.

 South Korean men with dual citizenship have to choose if they want to maintain their Korean citizenship by the end of March of the year they turn 18 years old. If he fails to do so in time, he is obligated to serve the military and choose to renounce his nationality only after he finishes his military service or after he is exempted from military service.

 The most prominent example for this category would be Steve Yoo (유승준) who renounced his South Korean citizenship just before his enlistment in 2002 at the age of 26. The South Korean government considered it as an act of desertion. Therefore, he was deported and banned from entering the country permanently. In November 2019, Steve Yoo managed to reverse the ban from his appeals to the court and he was allowed to return to the country, depending on his visa approvals.

How does mandatory military service affect Korean men and society?

 As the requirement for Korean men to enlist in the military is typically right after graduating from high school, people take their conscription as a sign of “growing up.” Regardless of their socioeconomic background, education level, or family connections, men are required to serve the military equally. Hence, it is taken as a way to promote unity and friendship between men from different backgrounds.

 Moreover, military service is perceived as a way to show patriotism and for many people, it is a great honor to be able to serve and contribute to the country. Actor Kim Soo Hyun (김수현) was originally assigned to the public service. He had undergone surgery for his childhood heart disease and therefore was deemed unfit to serve in active duties. However, he was determined to actively participate in military service and thus had voluntarily taken medical re-examinations. At the age of 29, actor Kim Soo Hyun was finally cleared for combat duties.

Kim Soo Hyun *Image from SM Entertainment

 Although military service has numerous benefits to society, it is undeniable that there are negative impacts as well. For example, Korean men generally put two years of their lives on hold to serve the country. They have to postpone their education and career pursuits while their female counterparts move on to pursue their dreams. After completing their military service, Korean men may also face some challenges in reintegrating into civilian life.

 As the requirement to earn an exemption is extremely high and it is almost impossible to be granted one, many industries such as music and dance industries are losing talented young performers. Music and dance industries risk losing young male talents who have to take two years off to serve in the army at the peak of their careers. Military service not only affects their short career lifespan but also affects the quality of their skills. Thus, many of those who return from the army face difficulty to rise to become the principals in major troupes. As a result, young talents tend to quit as soon as they enter the military. This has also caused ballet troupes in Korea to import dancers from countries like Ukraine and China to accommodate the shortage of male ballet dancers.

 Besides that, during military service, recruits have to abide by strict regulations on dress codes, curfews, and personal conduct. They have limited communication with family and friends and restricted access to social media. These limitations pose a great challenge for the recruits to adjust to, especially those who are used to having personal freedom. It is also because of this, many young hearts are broken as relationships do not last with little to no communication, and very few young women would wait for two long years.

Snippet from Good Job Korean Level 5. (If you are the girl, would you be able to wait for him to return?)

- Author: Good Job Korean team 
- Editor: Good Job Korean team