Conscription in South Korea has existed since 1957 and requires male citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 to perform compulsory military service.[1] [2] Women are not required to perform military service, but they may voluntarily join the military.[3]
The basis for military conscription in South Korea is the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which was promulgated on 17 July 1948. The constitution states in Article 39, "All citizens shall have the duty of national defense under the conditions as prescribed by Act."[4] [5]
In addition, the conscription is defined and acted by the "Military Service Act" (병역법).[6] [7] According to the "Military Service Act" Article 3, "Every male citizen of the Republic of Korea shall faithfully perform mandatory military service, as prescribed by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and this Act. A female may perform only active service or reserve service through volunteering" and "Except as provided in this Act, no special case concerning mandatory military service shall be prescribed". Only males being drafted was confirmed by the Constitutional Court of Korea, which declared in 2006 that it is the right of government to decide whoever is subject of the conscription, and hence there is no constitutional error of government decisions.[8] Conscription is managed by the Military Manpower Administration, which was created in 1948.[9]
By law, when a South Korean man turns 18 years old, he is enlisted for "first citizen service," meaning he is liable for military duty, but is not yet required to serve.[10] [11] When he turns 19 years old (or, in some instances, 20 years old), he is required to undergo an Impairment & Disability evaluation to determine whether he is suitable for military service. The table below shows the evaluation's possible grades and their outcomes, according to the Military Service Act.[12] Men must enlist by the time they turn 28.[13]
| Grade | Description | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3 | "Those whose physical and psychological constitution is healthy enough to perform actively in army." | "To be enlisted for active duty service, supplemental service or the second citizen service, based on their qualifications, such as educational background and age." | |
| 4 | "Those whose physical and psychological constitution is not so healthy for active training but capable of doing supplemental service for civilians as replacements(This is a common grade for people with minor disabilities)." | "To be enlisted for supplemental service or the second citizen service, based on their qualifications, such as educational background and age." | |
| 5 | "Those incapable of entering active or supplemental service, but capable of entering the second citizen service(This is a common grade for people with disabilities)." | "To be enlisted for the second citizen service." | |
| 6 | "Those incapable of performing military service due to any disease or mental or physical incompetence(This is a common grade for people with severe disabilities)." | "To be exempted from military service." | |
| 7 | "Those unable to be graded...due to any disease or mental or physical incompetence." | "To undergo a follow-up physical examination" within two years. |
| Areas | Notation of military service relevant regulation | Commonly used terms | Meaning | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | English | Korean | |||
| Conscription examination | Draft Physical Examination | 병역판정검사 징병검사 징병신체검사 | Conscription Examination Military Service Judgment Examination Physical Examination(PE) | 징병검사 병역판정검사 신체검사(신검) | ||
| Physical Grade | 신체등급 신체등위 | Physical Grade | 신체등급 | |||
| Grade I Grade II Grade III Grade IV Grade V Grade VI Grade VII | 1급 2급 3급 4급 5급 6급 7급 | Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 | 1급 2급 3급 4급 5급 6급 7급 | |||
| - | 갑종 제1을종 제2을종 제3을종 병종 정종 무종 | Grade A Grade B-1 Grade B-2 Grade B-3 Grade C Grade D Grade E | 갑종 1을종 2을종 3을종 병종 정종 무종 | Physical grades names from Before 1984 | ||
| rowspan="8" | - Disposition for military service - Type of service | Preliminary Military Service First militia Service First Citizen Service | 병역준비역 제1국민역 | Preliminary Military Service 1st Citizen Service | 병역준비역 제1국민역 | |
| Active Service | 현역 | Active | 현역 | |||
| Reserve Service | 예비역 | Reserve Service | 예비역 | |||
| Full-Time Reserve Service | 상근예비역 | Full-Time Reserve Service | 상근예비역 | |||
| Supplementary Service Supplemental Service Recruit Service | 보충역 | Supplementary Service | 보충역 | |||
| Wartime labor service Second militia Service Second Citizen Service | 전시근로역 제2국민역 | Exemption from Military Service in Ordinary time Exemption from Ordinary time | 평시병역면제 평시면제 | |||
| Exemption from Military service | 병역면제 | Exemption from All Military Service All exemption | 병역완전면제 완전면제 | |||
| Removal from Military Register | 병역제적 | Exemption from All Military Service by Criminal record All exemption from Criminal record | 전과에 의한 병역완전면제 전과에 의한 완전면제 전과로 병역완전면제 전과로 완전면제 | In the case of being sentenced to more than 6 years in prison under the ROK Military service act, it was Removal from Military service registration.[14] | ||
| Disposition for subject to active duty, service, etc. | Enlisted in Active Service | 현역입영대상 | Active duty Subject to Enlist Subject to Conscription Subject to Draft | 현역대상 현역입영대상 징병대상 | ||
| Called for Full-Time Reserve Service | 상근예비역소집대상 | Subject to Called for Full-Time Reserve Service | 상근예비역소집대상 | |||
| Disposition for subject to supplementary service callup, service, etc. | Called for Defense | 방위소집대상 | Called for Defense | 방위소집대상 | Defense Call-up(Defense soldier call-up) is classified as a supplementary service from 1969 to 1994. It was in the form of commuting from home to Military unit(or Police station, Police box, Conscription part of Town office). | |
| - | 방위병 | Defense Soldier | 방위병 | |||
| Called for Public Interest Service | 공익근무요원소집대상 | Called for Public Service | 공익복무요원 소집대상 | |||
| Called for Social Service | 사회복무요원소집대상 | Called for Social Service | 사회복무요원 소집대상 | |||
| Public interest service Personnel | 공익근무요원 | Social Service Personnel | 공익근무요원 | |||
| Social Service Personnel | 사회복무요원 | Social Service Personnel | 사회복무요원 | |||
| Certificate of Military Registration data notation[15] [16] | ||
|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |
| Name | Hong Gil-dong | 홍 길동 |
| Kim Han-guk | 김 한국 | |
| Birth date | 12 Mar. 1979 | 790312 |
| 28 Mar. 2001 | 2001. 3.28 | |
| Physical grade | Grade I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7급 |
| Draft Physical Examination Omitted | 병역판정검사생략 | |
| Disposition for military service | Preliminary Military Service | 병역준비역 |
| Subject to Draft Physical Examination | 병역판정검사대상 | |
| Active Service | 현역 | |
| Enlisted in Active Service | 현역병입영대상 | |
| Full-Time Reserve Service | 상근예비역 | |
| Called for Full-Time Reserve Service | 상근예비역소집대상 | |
| Supplementary Service | 보충역 | |
| Called for Social Service | 사회복무요원소집대상 | |
| Alternative Service | 대체역 | |
| Called for alternative service | 대체복무요원소집대상 | |
| Reserve Service | 예비역 | |
| Subject to Follow-up Physical Examination | 재신체검사대상 | |
| Wartime Labor Service | 전시근로역 | |
| Exemption from Military Service | 병역면제 | |
| Removal from Military Register | 병적제적(6년이상수형) | |
| Reason of disposition | An only son | 독자 |
| Wounded in action or injured in the line of duty | 전·공상 | |
| (Family member) wounded in action or injured in the line of duty | (가족)전·공상 | |
| Difficulties in Earning a Livelihood | 생계유지곤란 | |
| Not Completing Middle School | 중학교 중퇴이하 | |
| Long-term Waiting | 장기대기 | |
| Emigration | 국외이주(이민) | |
| Acquisition of the Permanent Residence Right | 영주권취득 | |
| Loss of nationality | 국적상실 | |
| Thirty-one years of age or older | 31세이상 | |
| Thirty-six years of age or older | 36세이상 | |
| Remaining in Physical Grade VII for one year or longer | 7급1년이상 | |
| Remaining in Physical Grade VII for two year or longer | 7급2년이상 | |
| Naturalization | 귀화 | |
| Multiracial child | 혼혈아 | |
| Serving a sentence | 수형 | |
| Child born out of wedlock | 혼인외 출생자 | |
| Excluded from the Public | 제외 | |
| Immigrated from the North of the Military Demarcation Line | 군사분계선 이북지역에서 이주 | |
| Boot camp | Army Recruit Training Center | 육군 훈련소 |
| OO Replacement Center | OO 보충대 | |
| OO Division | OO 사단 | |
| Draft examination | Postponement of Draft Physical Examination (Studying Abroad) | 병역판정검사연기(유학) |
| Postponement of Draft Physical Examination (Seafarer) | 병역판정검사연기(선원) | |
| Postponement of Draft Physical Examination (Residing Abroad) | 병역판정검사연기(국외이주) | |
| Postponement of Draft Physical Examination (Emigration) | 병역판정검사연기(국외거주) | |
| Postponement of Draft Physical Examination (In Prison) | 병역판정검사연기(재감) | |
| Evasion of Draft Physical Examination | 병역판정검사 기피 | |
| Enlist of active | Postponement of Conscription (Student) | 입영연기(재학생) |
| Postponement of Conscription (Studying Abroad) | 입영연기(유학) | |
| Postponement of Conscription (Residing Abroad) | 입영연기(국외거주) | |
| Postponement of Conscription (Emigration) | 입영연기(국외이주) | |
| Postponement of Conscription (Training in Research Institute) | 입영연기(연수) | |
| Postponement of Conscription (Outstanding Athlete) | 입영연기(우수연수) | |
| Postponement of Conscription Date | 입영일자 연기 | |
| Homecoming after Conscription | 입영후 귀가 | |
| Subject to Notice of Re-Conscription | 재입영통지대상 | |
| Domestic Reason | 가사사정 | |
| Employed Abroad | 국외취업 | |
| Residing in an Unreclaimed Area | 미수복지구거주 | |
| Application for Military Service | 군 지원 | |
| Evasion of Conscription | 입영기피 | |
| Missing | 행방불명 | |
| (Medical/Judicial/Religious) Officer/Cadet Officer | (의무/법무/군종)장교/사관후보생 | |
| Basic Branch Officer | 기본병과장교 | |
| Noncommissioned Cadet Officer | 부사관 후보생 | |
| Enlistment in OO | OO 편입 | |
| Removed from OO | OO 제적 | |
| Call of supplementary service, etc. | Postponement of Call (Student) | 소집연기(재학생) |
| Postponement of Call (Studying Abroad) | 소집연기(유학) | |
| Postponement of Call (Seafarer) | 소집연기(선원) | |
| Postponement of Call (Residing Abroad) | 소집연기(국외거주) | |
| Postponement of Call (Emigration) | 소집연기(국외이주) | |
| Postponement of Call (Training in Research Institute) | 소집연기(연수) | |
| Postponement of Call (Outstanding Athlete) | 소집연기(우수연수) | |
| Postponement of Call Date | 소집일자연기 | |
| Exemption from Call | 소집면제 | |
| Evasion from Call | 소집기피 | |
| Enlistment in OO | (산업요원등)편입 | |
| Cancellation of Enlistment in OO | OO 편입취소 | |
| Advance Service | 선복무 | |
| Social Service Personnel | 사회복무요원 | |
| International Cooperation Service Personnel | 국제협력봉사요원 | |
| Art and Sports Personnel | 예술체육요원 | |
| Expert Research Personnel | 전문연구요원 | |
| Industrial Technical Personnel | 산업기능요원 | |
| International Cooperative Doctor | 국제협력의사 | |
| Public-Service Advocate | 공익법무관 | |
| Public Health Doctor | 공중보건의사 | |
| Doctor Exclusively in Charge of Draft Physical Examination | 병역판정검사전담의사 | |
| Onboard Ship Reserve Service | 승선근무예비역 | |
| Alternative Service Personnel | 대체복무요원 | |
| Others | Ban on foreign travel (a person who has stayed in the country for one year or longer) | 출국금지(1년이상 국내체재) |
| Removal of the ban on foreign travel (others) | ||
| Jehovah's Witnesses | 여호와의 증인 | |
| Departure before age 24 | 24세이전출국 | |
| Period of Mandatory Service | 의무복무기간 | |
| Exclusion from the Military Service | 군복무 제외기간 | |
| Short-term overseas travel | 단기여행 | |
| Illegal stay in a foreign country | 국외불법체재 | |
| Violation of duty to obtain permission for overseas travel | 국외여행허가의무위반 | |
| Forces | Army | 육군 |
| Navy | 해군 | |
| Air Force | 공군 | |
| Marine, Subordinate to ROK Navy | 해병대 | |
| Expiration date | Indefinite | 무기한 |
| 6 Months | 6월 | |
| Type of service | Reserve Service | 예비역 |
| Recruit Service | 보충역 | |
| Exemption from the Service | 면역 | |
| Retirement from the Service | 퇴역 | |
| Removal from Military Register | 병적제적 | |
| Discharge | Discharge from Military Service | 전역 |
| Discharge from Military Service by Application | 원에 의한 전역 | |
| Forced Discharge from Military Service | 원에 의하지 아니한 전역 | |
| Home on Leave from Military Service | 귀휴전역 | |
| Discharge from Military Service as Woman | 여군전역 | |
| Completion of Service | 복무만료 | |
| Completion of Service(Release from Call) | 복무만료(소집해제) | |
| Completion of Military Service | 만기 | |
| Age Limit | 연령정년 | |
| Disease | 의병 | |
| Domestic Reason | 가사사정(의가사) | |
| Difficulties in Maintaining Household | 생계곤란 | |
| An only son | 독자 | |
| wounded in action or injured in the line of duty | 전·공상 | |
| Emigration | 국외이주 | |
| Disqualification | 신분상실 | |
| Exclusion to the Public | 제외 | |
| Secession from Military Service | 군복무이탈(삭제) | |
| Removal from the Army Register | 군 제적 | |
| Self-Surrender | 자수신고 | |
| National Land Construction Corps | 국토건설단 | |
| Volunteer Soldier as a Student | 학도의용군 | |
| Military Service Act | 병역법 | |
| Enforcement Decree of Military Service Act | 병역법시행령 | |
| Detailed Enforcement Regulation of Military Service Act | 병역법 시행규칙 | |
| Combatant police, etc. | Combatant Police Officer | 전투경찰 |
| Auxiliary Police Officer | 의무경찰 | |
| Obligatory Fireman | 의무소방 | |
| Coast Guard | 해양경찰 | |
| Correctional Guard | 경비교도 | |
The age standard is from January 1 to December 31 of the year of age.
■: Age group of Mandatory Military service ■: Age group of Mandatory Military service in Wartime| Age | Mandatory military service | Duty of conscription examination and enlist, etc. | Type of service | Note | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 or younger | Military Manpower Administration takes over the Identity registration data of persons (17-year-old male) who are enrollment to Military Service Registration(Assignment the Preliminary Military Service) in the following year from the Ministry of the Interior, and transmits them to the Local Military Manpower Office. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Subject for Mandatory Military service of Peacetime | No, but voluntary enlistment possible. | - Assignment the Preliminary Military Service. - Persons with disabilities registered under the Disabled registration system is Wartime Labor Service or Exemption from Military Service.Note 1 | 1.Age group subject to Civil Defense Corps under the Framework Act on Civil Defense from the age of 20[17] 2.Subject to a return order from the chief of staff of each military if he desertied while serving on the basis of active duty soldiers. 3.Reserve soldiers and Completed their service Supplementary soldiers in the Age group of Exemption from Duty of conscription examination and enlist, etc.(38 to 40 years old, 38 to 45 years old in Wartime) can be assigned to the Reserve Force according to the Reserve Forces Act on a wartime basis.[18] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 to 35 | All Military service obligators are obligated to Conscription examination and Enlist/Call-up(Passed person from Conscription examination. Active duty is Enlist, Supplementary Service is Call-up) | 1.According to the results of the Conscription examination.(Military Disposition. Active duty, Supplementary service, Wartime labor service or Exempted from Military service) 2.When the Mandatory service(Active service) period is completed, they are transferred to reserve service. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 36 to 37 | 1.In the peacetime, General Military service obligators are no Conscription examination and Enlist/Call-up 2.In the peacetime, Military Service Act Violators, Oversea stayer, etc. are obligated to Conscription examination. When disposed of as a Supplementary service, there is an Obligation to convene Public service. 3.In the wartime, All Military service obligators are obligated to enlist as conscription examination and active duty. | 1.Same as above. 2.Military Service Act Violators, Overseas stayer, etc. are Subject to Supplementary service, Wartime Labor Service or Exempted from Military service according to the results of the Conscription examination. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 38 to 40 | In any case, No duty of Conscription Examination and Enlist. | Same as above. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 41 to 45 | 1.End of Mandatory Military service from Peacetime(Soldier ranks) 2.Extension of Mandatory Military service from Wartime | Exemption from Service for Active Soldiers, Reserve Soldiers, Supplementary Soldiers, Wartime Labor Service in PeacetimeNote 2 | Reserve soldiers and Completed their service Supplementary soldiers can be assigned to the Reserve Force according to the Reserve Forces Act on a Wartime basis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 46 or older | End of Mandatory Military service from Peacetime and Wartime. Exemption from Service for Active, Reserve, Supplementary Soldiers, Wartime Labor Service in Peacetime and WartimeNote 2 | Expanded 50 years of age for the Wartime Civil Defense Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note 1: Some disabled person (mild disabled person). If the disability status of a disabled person changes at the age of 19, or if a reason for the return of the disabled registration card occurs, a Conscription Examination shall be performed. Note 2:
Note 3: Retirement of Officers, Warrant officers, and Noncommissioned officers when they reach retirement age of rank from Military Personnel Management Act.[19] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age | Mandatory military service | Duty of conscription examination and enlist, etc. | Type of service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 or younger | - | None. | - | |
| 18 to 19 | Subject for Mandatory Military service of Peacetime | Assignment the 1st Citizen Service. | ||
| 20 to 30 | All Military service obligators are obligated to Conscription examination and Enlist/Call-up (Passed person from Conscription examination. Active duty is Enlist, Supplementary Service is Call-up) | 1.According to the results of the Conscription examination. (Military Disposition. Active duty, Supplementary service, Wartime labor service or Exempted from Military service) 2.Those who are not Active (Serving), Reserve, or Supplementary Service are the 1st Citizen service. 3.When the Mandatory service (Active service) period is completed, they are transferred to Reserve service. | ||
| 31 to 35 | 1.In peacetime, All Military Service Obligators (Including those Military Service Act Violators, Oversea stayer, etc.) are no Conscription examination, Enlist, Supplementary Service Call-up (Exemption from Call)Note 1 2.In the wartime, All Military service obligators are obligated to enlist as conscription examination and active duty. | 1.Same as above. 2.The 1st Citizen service that has not been Conscription examination and those Subject to Active Enlist (Subject to draft) who have not been notified of Active draft are transferred to Supplementary service. | ||
| 36 to 40 | In any case, No duty of Conscription Examantion and Enlist. | |||
| 41 to 45 | 1.End of Mandatory Military service from Peacetime (Soldier ranks) 2.Extension of Mandatory Military service from Wartime | Exemption from Service for Active Soldiers, Reserve Soldiers, Supplementary Soldiers, Wartime Labor Service in PeacetimeNote 2 | ||
| 46 or older | End of Mandatory Military service from Peacetime and Wartime. Exemption from Service for Active, Reserve, Supplementary Soldiers, 2nd Citizen Service in Peacetime and WartimeNote 2 | |||
| Note 1: According to Article 7 of the Military Service Act Addenda in 1971, Military Service Act Violators(Conscription examination or Enlist refusers/dodgers) as of the enforcement year(1971) are obligated to Conscription examination and enlist.[20] Note 2: Retirement of Officers, Warrant officers, and Noncommissioned officers when they reach retirement age of rank. | ||||
| Age | Mandatory military service | Duty of conscription examination and enlist, etc. | Type of service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 or younger | a 17-year-old person (17-year-old male) must report the incorporation of the 1st Citizen service to the Town mayor or Village Chief. | No, But Possible the Voluntary enlist. | ||
| 18 | Subject for Mandatory Military service of Peacetime | not enlisted from 1st Citizen Service | ||
| 19 to 30 | All Military service obligators are obligated to Conscription examination and Enlist/Call-up (Passed person from Conscription examination. Active duty is Enlist, Supplementary Service is Call-up) | 1.According to the results of the Conscription examination. (Military Disposition. Active duty, Supplementary service, Wartime labor service or Exempted from Military service) 2.Those who are not Active (Serving), Reserve, or Supplementary Service are the 1st Citizen service. 3.When the Mandatory service (Active service) period is completed, they are transferred to Reserve service. | ||
| 31 to 35 | 1.In the peacetime, All Military Service Obligators (Including those Military Service Act Violators, Oversea stayer, etc.) are no Conscription examination, Enlist, Supplementary Service Call-up (Exemption from Call) 2.In the wartime, All Military service obligators are obligated to enlist as conscription examination and active duty. | 1.Same as above. 2.The 1st Citizen service that has not been Conscription examination and those Subject to Active Enlist (Subject to draft) who have not been notified of Active draft are transferred to Supplementary service. | ||
| 36 to 40 | In any case, No duty of Conscription Examantion and Enlist. | |||
| 41 to 45 | 1.End of Mandatory Military service from Peacetime (Soldier ranks) 2.Extension of Mandatory Military service from Wartime | Exemption from Service for Active Soldiers, Reserve Soldiers, Supplementary Soldiers, Wartime Labor Service in PeacetimeNote | ||
| 46 or older | End of Mandatory Military service from Peacetime and Wartime. Exemption from Service for Active, Reserve, Supplementary Soldiers, 2nd Citizen Service in Peacetime and WartimeNote | |||
| Note: Retirement of Officers, Warrant officers, and Noncommissioned officers when they reach retirement age of rank. | ||||
| Age | Mandatory military service | Duty of conscription examination and enlist, etc. | Type of service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 or younger | a 17-year-old person (17-year-old male) must report the incorporation of the 1st Citizen service to the Town mayor or Village Chief. (Before February 5, 1999) Military Manpower Administration takes over the Identity registration data of persons (17-year-old male) who are enrollment to Military Service Registration (Assignment the Preliminary Military Service) in the following year from the Ministry of the Interior, and transmits them to the Local Military Manpower Office. (After February 5, 1999) | |||
| 18 | Subject for Mandatory Military service of Peacetime | No, but voluntary enlistment is possible. | Assignment the 1st Citizen Service. Persons with disabilities registered under the Disabled registration system is Wartime Labor Service or Exemption from Military Service. | |
| 19 to 30 | All Military service obligators are obligated to Conscription examination and Enlist/Call-up (Passed person from Conscription examination. Active duty is Enlist, Supplementary Service is Call-up) | 1.According to the results of the Conscription examination. (Military Disposition. Active duty, Supplementary service, Wartime labor service or Exempted from Military service) 2.When the Mandatory service (Active service) period is completed, they are transferred to reserve service. | ||
| 31 to 35 | 1.In the peacetime, General Military service obligators are no Conscription examination and Enlist/Call-up 2.In the peacetime, Military Service Act Violators, Oversea stayer, etc. are obligated to Conscription examination. When disposed of as a Supplementary service, there is an Obligation to convene Public service. 3.In the wartime, All Military service obligators are obligated to enlist as conscription examination and active duty. | 1.Same as above. 2.Military Service Act Violators, Overseas stayer, etc. are Subject to Supplementary service, Wartime Labor Service or Exempted from Military service according to the results of the Conscription examination. | ||
| 38 to 40 | In any case, No duty of Conscription Examination and Enlist. | Same as above. | ||
| 41 to 45 | 1.End of Mandatory Military service from Peacetime (Soldier ranks) 2.Extension of Mandatory Military service from Wartime | Exemption from Service for Active Soldiers, Reserve Soldiers, Supplementary Soldiers, Wartime Labor Service in PeacetimeNote | ||
| 46 or older | End of Mandatory Military service from Peacetime and Wartime. Exemption from Service for Active, Reserve, Supplementary Soldiers, Wartime Labor Service in Peacetime and WartimeNote | |||
| Note: Retirement of Officers, Warrant officers, and Noncommissioned officers when they reach retirement age of rank. | ||||
There are seven physical grades. Grade name is I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII. Before 1984 grades name is A, B (respectively B-I, B-II, B-III), C, D and E
| Before 1984 | After 1984 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Korean | Name | Korean | |
| Grade A | 갑종 | Grade I | 1급 | |
| Grade B-I | 제1을종 | Grade II | 2급 | |
| Grade B-II | 제2을종 | Grade III | 3급 | |
| Grade B-III | 제3을종 | Grade IV | 4급 | |
| Grade C | 병종 | Grade V | 5급 | |
| Grade D | 정종 | Grade VI | 6급 | |
| Grade E | 무종 | Grade VII | 7급 | |
I, II, III and IV is Accepted, and grades V, VI and VII is Rejected.
The criteria for determining the physical grade shall be in accordance with Attached form 2 and 3 of the "Rules for examination of Conscription Physical Examination, etc."Attached form 2 sets the criteria for determining height and weight. Attached form 3 is the evaluation criteria for diseases and mental and physical disabilities, which vary from year to year.
In the following criteria, diseases and mental and physical disabilities are described mainly as representative or known.
| Physical grades | Accepted or Rejected | Standards[21] | Type of military service[22] |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Accepted | Physical and Psychological constitution is healthy, and can serve in active duty or supplementary service. | Active duty, Supplementary service, and Wartime labor service based on Qualifications (Educational background, Age, etc.) |
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | Rejected | Those incapable of entering active or supplementary service, but capable of entering the wartime labor service | Wartime labor service |
| 6 | Those incapable of performing military service due to disease or mental or physical disorder | Exempted from Military service | |
| 7 | In the case where grades I, II, III, IV, V, VI cannot be received due to Disease or Mental and Physical disability | Subject to Rephysical examination |
| Physical grade | Height (centimeters), weight (BMI) | Disease or disabled | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I |
|
| |
| II |
|
| |
| III |
|
| |
| IV |
|
| |
| V |
|
| |
| VI |
|
| |
| VII | |||
| Note 1: Surgery due to pneumothorax is Grade V in 1992. | |||
According to Article 14 of the Military Service Act, grades I to IV are based on qualifications (education, age, etc.) and are subject to active service, supplementary, wartime workers, Grade V exemptions, Grade VI exemptions, and Grade VII medical examinations. The criteria for disposing of active duty or supplementary officers in grades I to IV are determined by the Military Manpower Administration's announcement (annual announcement of conscription inspection). According to the announcement, the criteria for military service are as follows.
■: Active duty (현역, Subject to Enlist for Active duty. Subject to Draft)■: Supplementary service (보충역)■：Wartime labor service (전시근로역)[23] ■: Exempted from Military service (병역면제)■: Subject to Physical Reexamination (재검사대상)| Physical grade | |||||||||||||
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| div style="text-align:center" | Regardless | Active duty | div style="background:yellowgreen; text-align:center;" | Supplementary service | div style="background:yellow; text-align:center;" | Wartime Labor Service | div style="background:orange; text-align:center;" | Exempted from Military service | div style="background:pink; text-align:center;" | Subject to Physical reexamination | |||
Before the 1970s, the criteria for disposition of active duty and supplementary military service cannot be confirmed due to lack of data at the time.[24]
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B-I | B-II | B-III | C | D | E | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Dropout or less | div style="background:green; text-align:center;" | Active duty | Supplementary service | ||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B-I | B-II | B-III | C | D | E | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout | Active duty | Supplementary service | |||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Dropout or less | div style="background:green; text-align:center;" | Active duty | Supplementary service | ||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B-I | B-II | B-III | C | D | E | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Dropout or less | div style="background:green; text-align:center;" | Active duty | Supplementary service | ||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B-I | B-II | B-III | C | D | E | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout | Active duty | Supplementary service | |||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B-I | B-II | B-III | C | D | E | |||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | div style="background:yellowgreen; text-align:center;" | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | Active duty | Supplementary service | ||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | ||||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | ||||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout | Active duty | Supplementary service | ||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Graduated | ||||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Elementary school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | |||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B-I | B-II | B-III | C | D | E | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | |||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | Active duty | Supplementary service | |||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B-I | B-II | B-III | C | D | E | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | Active duty | Supplementary service | |||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
In 1984, Change of Physical Grade Name.
| Before 1984 | After 1984 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Korean | Name | Korean | |
| A | 갑종 | I | 1급 | |
| B-I | 제1을종 | II | 2급 | |
| B-II | 제2을종 | III | 3급 | |
| B-III | 제3을종 | IV | 4급 | |
| C | 병종 | V | 5급 | |
| D | 정종 | VI | 6급 | |
| E | 무종 | VII | 7급 | |
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | Active duty | div style="background:yellowgreen; text-align:center;" | Supplementary service | ||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | Active duty | Supplementary service | |||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | Active duty | div style="background:yellowgreen; text-align:center;" | Supplementary service | ||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | div style="background:green; text-align:center;" | Active duty | Supplementary service | ||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | Active duty | Supplementary service | |||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | Supplementary service | ||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | |||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | Supplementary service | ||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | |||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | div style="background:green; text-align:center;" | Active duty | Supplementary service | ||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | Supplementary service | ||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | Supplementary service | ||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | Supplementary service | ||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | |||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | Active duty | Supplementary service | |||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | 2nd Citizen service | ||||||
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | 2nd Citizen service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | Middle school Dropout or less | Supplementary service | ||||||
External links
| Educational background | Physical grade | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | College attending or more | Active duty | Supplementary service | Wartime Labor Service | Exempted from Military service | Subject to Physical reexamination | ||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Graduated | |||||||
| div style="text-align:center" | High school Dropout or less | Supplementary service | ||||||
External links
The length of compulsory military service in South Korea varies based on military branch.[26] Active duty soldiers serve 1 year 6 months in the Army or Marine Corps, 1 year 8 months in the Navy, or 1 year 9 months in the Air Force.[27] After conscripts finish their military service, they are automatically placed on the reserve roster and are obligated to attend 3 days of annual military training for 6 years (5 years from 2021).
Non-active duty personnel, or "supplemental service" personnel serve for various lengths: 1 year 9 months for social work personnel (better known as public service workers - personnel ordered to do public service work at places that require auxiliary workers such as local community centers like city halls, government agencies, and public facilities like subway stations);[28] 2 years 10 months for arts and sports personnel or industrial technical personnel; and 3 years for public health doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, or expert researchers.[29]
In 2010, there was growing public pressure to either shorten the length of conscription or to switch to voluntary military service, and calls from experts for a gradual phasing out of conscription rather than complete abolition.[30] However, in December 2010, after taking into consideration of the 2010 ROKS Cheonan sinking and Bombardment of Yeonpyeong incidents, the South Korean government said it would not reduce service periods.[31]
Artists and players who have won government accredited competitions are allowed to work as 'Art and Sports Personnel '. After a month of military training, Art and Sports Service agents work through their specialties to finish their military services; e.g. in professional sports teams, art galleries, museums or orchestra bands. Unlike other service agents who are working at factories, farms, universities, institutes or nursing homes, Art and Sports Service agents are allowed to work abroad.
Former president Park Chung-hee introduced exemptions for athletes in 1973 in an effort to win more medals for the country; some historians believe this also served as a distraction against the government's unpopularity.[32] After winning a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics, wrestler Yang Jung-mo was granted the first exemption. In the 1980s, president Chun Doo-hwan promised exemptions to any athlete who won a medal of any kind at either the 1986 Asian Games or the 1988 Summer Olympics.
When South Korea co-hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2002, their national football team was guaranteed an exemption if they reached the round of 16; the same promise was made to the national baseball team in 2006 if they reached the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. Public outrage ensued, and similar exemptions have been rarely granted since.
Current conscription regulations stipulate that athletes who win medals in the Olympic Games or gold medals in the Asian Games are granted exemptions from military service and are placed in Grade 4.[33] They are required to do four weeks of basic military training and engage in sports field for 42 months. After that, they are automatically placed on the reserve roster, and are obligated to attend a few days of annual military training for six years. In practice, after athletes finish their four weeks of basic military training, they are able to continue their own sports career during the 34 months of duty.[34]
The policy has resulted in coaches being accused of selecting players desperate to avoid military service instead of choosing the best athletes. Parents encourage their children to pursue sports in hopes of them receiving an exemption.
Notable athletes who have been granted exemptions from military service are the bronze medal-winning men's football team at the 2012 Summer Olympics,[35] [36] 2008 Olympic gold medalist badminton player Lee Yong-dae,[37] swimmer Park Tae-hwan,[38] [39] 2014 Asian Games gold medalist tennis player Chung Hyeon,[40] 2018 Asian Games gold medalist footballer Son Heung-min, and 2018 Asian Games gold medalist baseball player Lee Jung-hoo.
Esports players were not exempt from conscription until 2023, when esports became a regular event at the 2022 Asian Games.[41] Because esports had become a medal event in these games, it became possible for players to be exempt from conscription, so long as they won a gold medal in the games. The gold medal-winning roster of the country's national esports team became the first players to be granted the exemption.[42]
A total of 220 exemptions were granted from 2008 to 2018.
Exemptions are also granted to classical musicians and ballet performers who win first place in stipulated international-level competitions. A two-year extension for notable K-pop artists (from a law that was passed in December 2020) could also be given by government for their career, the age for joining military is 30 (which previously was 28). Some resources and media outlets claim that the primary reason for this amendment was singer-songwriter Jin, who, at the time, was about to turn 28.[43] [44] As his group BTS has had a huge impact (especially in the music industry) worldwide and contributed greatly to the spread of Korean culture and the Hallyu Wave, exemptions for them were in talks for a few years.[45] [46] Despite this, BTS' record label, Big Hit Music, announced on October 17, 2022, that Jin withdrew his enlistment deferral request and will be the first in the group to enter into mandatory military service, with other members of BTS to be enlisted on a later date.[47]
The right to conscientious objection was not recognized in South Korea until recently. Over 400 men were typically imprisoned at any given time for refusing military service for political or religious reasons in the years before right to conscientious objection was established.[48]
On 28 June 2018, the South Korean Constitutional Court ruled the Military Service Act unconstitutional and ordered the government to accommodate civilian forms of military service for conscientious objectors.[49] Later that year on 1 November 2018, the South Korean Supreme Court legalized conscientious objection as a basis for rejecting compulsory military service.[50]
Salary per month in 2017[51]
Salary per month in 2018
Salary per month in 2019
Salary per month in 2020
Salary per month in 2021
Salary per month in 2022
Salary per month in 2023
The Ministry of National Defense has revealed that it failed to provide sneakers to 7,411 recruits who joined the military from 22 May to 4 June 2012, after the budget was insufficient for need. The Defense ministry originally projected the cost of each pair of sneakers to be 11,000 KRW. However, the actual cost turned out to be 15,000 KRW.[52]
The office of National Assembly member Kim Kwang-jin of Democratic United Party revealed that cadets in Korea Military Academy were provided with sneakers worth 60,000 KRW and tennis shoes. Cadets in Korea Army Academy at Yeongcheon were provided with sneakers worth 64,250 KRW, in addition to running shoes and soccer shoes.[53]
For dual citizens, or those with multiple citizenships, male South Koreans must choose their citizenship by the time they turn 18, before 31 March of that year. If these males choose to revoke their South Korean citizenship, they will not be required to complete their mandatory military service. However, if they fail to choose their citizenship by their 18th year, they will be subjected to fulfill their mandatory military service[54] and, for those who wish to maintain their multiple citizenships, an oath not to exert foreign nationality within two years since finishing their military service.[55] If males choose to renounce their citizenship by their 18th year, they are ineligible to gain a South Korean work visa (F series) until after they turn 40 years of age. It may still be possible to gain an E series visa.
There have been cases of Koreans abroad (e.g. Korean Americans) being forced to serve in the military, as they were unaware they were actually citizens of South Korea. This happens when these people visit South Korea. One cause of this is the inadvertent inclusion on the family register.[56]
In 2011, the government dropped race-based requirements for mix-raced Korean nationals conscripted into the armed forces.[57] However, there currently is no law allowing non-ethnic Korean citizens conscription into the armed forces. All naturalized citizens and citizens not of partial Korean ethnicity have a choice of whether to enlist or not.
The Forced Labour Convention explicitly excludes "any work or service exacted in virtue of compulsory military service laws for work of a purely military character" from its scope.[58] However, ILO defines conscription of non-military purpose as forced labour.[59]
According to ILO, South Korean conscription violates the forced labour convention, because South Korea enrolls men with disabilities for non-military purposes. A majority (+90%) of the "Reserve - class 4 -" group work as "social service agents (사회복무요원)", and earn far less than the minimum legal wage at various fields, including government offices, subway stations, tax offices, post offices, and sanitaria.[58]
In April 2021, South Korea ratified the Forced Labour Convention, but conscription remained in place. South Korea changed its conscription law by providing "right to decide to be enrolled" to "reserve - class 4 -. those with minor disabilities". South Korea claims that this change makes the conscription legitimate because "reserve - class 4" now have the right to decide their methods of conscription between soldiers with active duty and "social service agents".[58] However, ILO continues to argue that enforcing "reserve - class 4-" to work as a "social service agent" is a violation of the Forced Labour Convention.[58]
See main article: article and Hazing in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.
In recent years, the South Korean government has been preparing a policy to lower conscription standards for mental and physical conditions that were previously considered exempt, in light of concerns that the country's low birthrate will lead to fewer conscripts; South Korea had the lowest fertility rate in the world in both 2020 and 2021.[60] Experts have stated that such actions will lead to wider problems already present in the military, by recruiting personnel who would not be able to adapt to the closed military.[61]
In general, the South Korean public tends to be intolerant towards men who attempt to evade mandatory military service or receive special treatment, especially if they are exploiting family wealth or political connections. Draft evasion is a punishable crime, but many entertainers, athletes, politicians and their children are known to have fabricated medical or other reasons to seek exemption from military service.[62] [63] According to a 2017 report by the Military Manpower Administration, the most common evasion tactic was extreme weight loss or gain (37%), followed by fabrication of mental illness (23.7%), and deliberate full-body tattoos (20.3%).[64] Studying abroad or migrating overseas to obtain foreign citizenship are considered the preferred option for sons in wealthy families, while nearly a hundred high-ranking politicians including sitting members of the National Assembly have managed to arrange unexplained exemptions for their sons.[65] These cases of draft evasion are to be distinguished from conscientious objection on political or religious grounds.
In 2002, just before South Korean pop singer Yoo Seung-jun was due to be drafted for his military service, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was born in Seoul and migrated to the United States at the age of 13. He had already obtained U.S. permanent residency and, in order to evade military service, went to LA, where he acquired citizenship within two months, subsequently renouncing his Korean nationality. The South Korean government considered it an act of desertion and deported him, banning him from entering the country permanently.[66] In February 2017, Yoo lost his second and final appeal regarding his entry ban which prohibited him from entry and any further appeals.[67] However, citing procedural irregularities, the South Korean Supreme Court re-opened the case in July 2019 and sent the case to the Seoul High Court, ordering them to retry Yoo's case.[68] In November 2019, the appeals court reversed the ban, paving the way for Yoo to return to the country, pending approval of a visa.[69] One of Yoo's visa requests was denied in July 2020 by the Los Angeles Consulate, citing Korean law that allows discretion in denying visas to applicants that "posed a threat to public interest."[70]