Conscription in South Korea
Encyclopedia
Conscription, or mandatory military service or compulsory national service, is legislated in South Korea
, with military service
stated as one of the Four Constitutional Duties (along with taxes, education, and labor) for all citizens. The current Conscription Law, however, applies only to males, although women are allowed to enroll in the Reserve Officer Training Corps as of 2010.
It is administer by the Military Manpower Administration. There are two tiers of service: active duty or non-active duty service. Length of service varies according to branches: 21 months for Army
and Marine Corps
, 23 months for Navy
, 24 months for Air Force
. The non-active duty service, eg civil service or public service worker, is from 26 months to 36 months.
South Korea currently has among the longest military service periods in the world, ranked behind Israel
and Singapore
. In recent years, there has been pressure from the public demanding either a shortening of the term or a switch to voluntary military service. However in December 2010, after taking into consideration of the 2010 ROKS Cheonan sinking
and Bombardment of Yeonpyeong
incidents, the government confirmed that there will be no reduction of service periods.
pop singer Steve Yoo was due to be drafted for his military service, he gave up his Korean nationality and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was born in Seoul and migrated to the United States at the age of 13. The South Korean government considered it an act of desertion
and deported him, banning him from entering the country permanently.
was cleared of intentionally pulling out healthy teeth to be exempted from military duty but was sentenced to a suspended jail term of 6 months, probation for one year, and 120 hours of community service, for deliberately delaying enlistment on false grounds. The court acknowledged that there was a delay in his military enlistment, however, they were unable to determine whether he was guilty of extracting teeth for the purpose of avoiding his military draft. In September 2011, it was reported that Mong has been banned by Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)
from appearing in its TV shows, for draft dodging.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, with military service
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
stated as one of the Four Constitutional Duties (along with taxes, education, and labor) for all citizens. The current Conscription Law, however, applies only to males, although women are allowed to enroll in the Reserve Officer Training Corps as of 2010.
It is administer by the Military Manpower Administration. There are two tiers of service: active duty or non-active duty service. Length of service varies according to branches: 21 months for Army
Republic of Korea Army
The Republic of Korea Army is the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 520,000 members as of 2010...
and Marine Corps
Republic of Korea Marine Corps
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Republic of Korea...
, 23 months for Navy
Republic of Korea Navy
The Republic of Korea Navy or the ROK Navy is the branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization...
, 24 months for Air Force
Republic of Korea Air Force
The Republic of Korea Air Force is the air force of South Korea...
. The non-active duty service, eg civil service or public service worker, is from 26 months to 36 months.
South Korea currently has among the longest military service periods in the world, ranked behind Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. In recent years, there has been pressure from the public demanding either a shortening of the term or a switch to voluntary military service. However in December 2010, after taking into consideration of the 2010 ROKS Cheonan sinking
ROKS Cheonan sinking
The ROKS Cheonan sinking occurred on 26 March 2010, when the Cheonan, a South Korean Navy ship carrying 104 personnel, sank off the country's west coast near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 seamen...
and Bombardment of Yeonpyeong
Bombardment of Yeonpyeong
The bombardment of Yeonpyeong was an artillery engagement between the North Korean military and South Korean forces stationed on Yeonpyeong Island on November 23, 2010. Following a South Korean regular artillery exercise at waters in the south, North Korean forces fired around 170 artillery shells...
incidents, the government confirmed that there will be no reduction of service periods.
Notable enlistments
- Ji SungJi SungJi Sung is a South Korean actor, born on 27 February 1977. He is best known for his roles in popular drama series such as Save the Last Dance for Me and New Heart....
: 7 June 2005 (24 months) - at the Nonsan military camp in Chungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
Province followed by active duty with the armyRepublic of Korea ArmyThe Republic of Korea Army is the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 520,000 members as of 2010...
and designated as public ambassador of military affairs. Discharged on 6 June 2007.
- Kim Dong WanKim Dong WanKim Dong Wan was born on 21 November 1979. He is a South Korean entertainer, known as a member of six-member boy band Shinhwa. He has since 2002 has been making a name for himself as an actor, with roles in television dramas such as A Farewell to Sorrow and Children of Heaven...
of ShinhwaShinhwaShinhwa is a popular South Korean boy band and hip hop group. The group has six members , and debuted on March 24, 1998. It has enjoyed massive success alongside the likes of Sechs Kies, g.o.d., Turbo , Fin. K.L., H.O.T. and S.E.S...
: November 2008 (24 months) - as an administrative worker at the Seodaemun-guSeodaemun-guSeodaemun-gu is a gu located in northwestern Seoul, South Korea. The name derives from Seodaemun, meaning literally "Great West Gate", which was once located in the district...
District Office, after four weeks of basic army training camp in GongjuGongjuGongju , also spelt Kongju, is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea. It is located at .- History :Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo...
, Chungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
Discharged on 17 December 2010.
- Zo In Sung: November 2008 (25 months) - Air ForceRepublic of Korea Air ForceThe Republic of Korea Air Force is the air force of South Korea...
and military band at Osan Air Force headquarters in PyeongtaekPyeongtaekPyeongtaek is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Located in the southwestern part of the province, Pyeongtaek was founded as a union of two districts in 940 AD, during the Goryeo dynasty. It was elevated to city status in 1986, and is home to a South Korean naval base and a large...
, Gyeonggi. Discharged on 4 May 2011
- Lee Jae WonLee Jae Won-External links:* *...
of H.O.T.H.O.T.H.O.T. was a popular five-member South Korean boy band in the mid to late 1990s. Their name is an acronym, standing for "High-five Of Teenagers". They were formed by SM Entertainment in 1996 and disbanded in 2001.H.O.T...
: 2009 (22 months) - Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-guYongsan-guYongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill", derived from the hanja characters for dragon and hill/mountain . It sits to the North of the Han River under the shadow of Seoul Tower. Geographically, it is located right in the center of Seoul. It is home to roughly...
, Seoul. Discharged on 7 March 2011
- Jun JinJun JinJun Jin was born Park Choong Jae on 19 August 1980. is a South Korean entertainer, known as a member and rapper of six-member boy band Shinhwa. He debuted as a dancer and rapper in Shinhwa in 1998 but started singing small parts in 2002; the release of Shinhwa's 5th album...
of ShinhwaShinhwaShinhwa is a popular South Korean boy band and hip hop group. The group has six members , and debuted on March 24, 1998. It has enjoyed massive success alongside the likes of Sechs Kies, g.o.d., Turbo , Fin. K.L., H.O.T. and S.E.S...
: 22 October 2009 (24 months) as public service worker after four weeks of basic training at the Nonsan military camp in Chungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
Province. Due to be discharged on 14 November 2011.
- Andy Lee of ShinhwaShinhwaShinhwa is a popular South Korean boy band and hip hop group. The group has six members , and debuted on March 24, 1998. It has enjoyed massive success alongside the likes of Sechs Kies, g.o.d., Turbo , Fin. K.L., H.O.T. and S.E.S...
: 11 January 2010 (21 months) - Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-guYongsan-guYongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill", derived from the hanja characters for dragon and hill/mountain . It sits to the North of the Han River under the shadow of Seoul Tower. Geographically, it is located right in the center of Seoul. It is home to roughly...
, Seoul. Discharged on 31 October 2011.
- Kim Youngwoon of Super JuniorSuper JuniorSuper Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
: 5 July 2010 (for 20 months) - After four weeks of basic training at the Nonsan military camp in Chungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
Province.
- Hyun BinHyun BinHyun Bin is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his lead roles in the dramas My Name is Kim Sam Soon in 2005, and Secret Garden in 2010.-Career:...
: 7 March 2011 (21 months) - Marine Corps in PohangPohangPohang is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and a main seaport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River...
, Gyeongsangbuk-doGyeongsangbuk-doGyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...
Province, due to be discharged on 6 December 2012
- Kim Heechul of Super JuniorSuper JuniorSuper Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
: 1 September 2011 (for 23 months) as public service worker after four weeks of basic training at the Nonsan military camp in Chungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
Province.
- Rain: 11 October 2011 (for 21 months) at the 306th Army draft camp in UijeongbuUijeongbuUijeongbu is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.The city is located just north of Seoul with many U.S. and Korean military bases for the defense of the Korean capital. The U.S. Second Infantry Division has established its headquarters in the city with main troops deployed in Dongducheon...
, Gyeonggi-doGyeonggi-doGyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is located in the heart of the province, but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946...
province.
- Hwanhee of Fly to the SkyFly to the SkyFly to the Sky was a South Korean R&B duo, consisting of Korean American Brian Joo and South Korean native Hwanhee.Initially marketed as a duo that can sing, rap, and dance, their early works featured bubblegum pop and upbeat techno music. The duo later changed their image and style with the...
: 27 October 2011 (for 23 months) as public service worker after four weeks of basic training at the Nonsan military camp in Chungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-doChungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
Province.
Controversies
Those found or accused of draft dodging often face public backlash. According to Ha Jae-keun, a South Korean pop columnist, "The mood against draft dodgers is so hostile that nowadays entertainers feel it's better to simply get it over with".Steve Yoo
In 2002, right before Korean AmericanKorean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
pop singer Steve Yoo was due to be drafted for his military service, he gave up his Korean nationality and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was born in Seoul and migrated to the United States at the age of 13. The South Korean government considered it an act of desertion
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
and deported him, banning him from entering the country permanently.
Song Seung-heon
In late 2004, it was revealed that actor Song Seung-heon had avoided his draft by taking medication to fail the military physical examination. Song had previously been exempted by claiming to have severe diabetes and high blood pressure, but that was found by the South Korean government to be false. Amidst press coverage and public outcry, Song publicly apologised and agreed to immediately serve his two-year term in the military. Song was discharged on 15 November 2006 with the rank of Corporal.MC Mong
On 11 April 2011, rapper MC MongMC Mong
MC Mong is a South Korean hip hop artist who is known for his comic disposition and his upbeat songs. He graduated from Dong-Ah Broadcasting College. MC Mong has collaborated with many well known artists, including Kim Tae Woo from G.o.d., Ock Ju-hyun, Ivy, Crown J, Lena Park, Park Hyo Shin, SG...
was cleared of intentionally pulling out healthy teeth to be exempted from military duty but was sentenced to a suspended jail term of 6 months, probation for one year, and 120 hours of community service, for deliberately delaying enlistment on false grounds. The court acknowledged that there was a delay in his military enlistment, however, they were unable to determine whether he was guilty of extracting teeth for the purpose of avoiding his military draft. In September 2011, it was reported that Mong has been banned by Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television...
from appearing in its TV shows, for draft dodging.