Page 153 - 2020 Defence White Paper

[Chart 5-1] Changes in the Length of the Military Service Period (applicable to the Army)

(Unit: months)
36
33
30 30
26 24
21
18

1962~1967 1968~1976 1977~1983 1984~1992 1993~2003 2003~2010 2011~2017 2021

Measures to Prevent To prevent force deterioration caused by the shortened
Force Deterioration service period, cutting-edge defense technologies for
modern warfare will be strengthened, and the man- Chapter 5
power structure will be restructured into one centered on officers and NCOs with
positions requiring proficiency to be filled by NCOs. Moreover, the training system
for enlisted personnel will be enhanced, and realistic training will be reinforced to
improve their proficiency as early as possible through scientific training. At the same
time, noncombatant missions will be minimized by increasing civilian military
employees and civilian workers to help servicemembers focus on combat missions
during their service periods. Such reform in the defense manpower operation system
will further bolster the ROK’s military power.

2. Increasing the Proportion of Female Servicemembers and
Providing Favorable Working Conditions

Acquiring Superior The necessity to expand female military manpower is
Female Workforce increasing as women’s role in society continues to
expand and due to the reform on transforming the
military into a technology-intensive one. To increase the proportion of female
servicemembers, the MND is gradually recruiting female junior cadres (second
lieutenants and staff sergeants) in accordance with the 2018-2022 Plan for Female
Workforce Expansion Plan, which aims to increase the proportion of female
servicemembers to at least 8.8% by 2022.
As of the end of November 2020, the total number of female servicemembers stood
at 13,665, accounting for 7.4% of the total number of cadres (officers and NCOs) as

Chapter 5. Establishing a Fair, Transparent, and Efficient National Defense Operation System 151