Page 105 - 2020 Defence White Paper

Appendix
23

Changes in Mandatory Military Service Period

Period of Service (months)
Year Army and Reasons for Adjustment
Marine Navy Air Force
Corps
Normal implementation of the Military Service Act was
1952 or earlier No discharge system
impossible due to the Korean War
Discharge of long-term servicemembers after the Korean
1953 36 36 36
War
Mitigation of the conscription burden for enlisted
1959 33 36 36
servicemembers
Mitigation of the conscription burden for enlisted
1962 30 36 36
servicemembers
Extension of the military service period due to the January
1968 36 39 39
21 Incident
Reduction of surplus resources and provision of industrial
1977 33 39 39
technical expert support
Mitigation of difficulties with acquiring enlisted
1979 33 35 35
servicemembers for Navy and Air Force
Mitigation of the conscription burden for enlisted
1984 30 35 35
servicemembers
Mitigation of difficulties with acquiring enlisted
1990 30 32 35
servicemembers for Navy
Reduction of surplus resources due to abolishment of
1993 26 30 30
secondary reserve system
Mitigation of difficulties with acquiring enlisted
1994 26 28 30
servicemembers for Navy
Mitigation of the conscription burden for enlisted
2003 24 26 28
servicemembers
Mitigation of difficulties with acquiring enlisted
2004 24 26 27
servicemembers for Air Force
Reduction of military service period by six months to ease
2008 24 ª 18 26 ª 20 27 ª 21 the burden of military service (phased implementation by
2014)
Adjustment of the previous reduction of six months to three
2011 21 23 24 months due to the attack on the ROKS Cheonan and
shelling of Yeonpyeong Island
Transformation of troop-centered military forces into elite
military forces powered by science and technology and
2018 21 ª 18 23 ª 20 24 ª 22
mitigation of the conscription burden for enlisted
servicemembers (Defense Reform 2.0)
2020 18 20 22 ª 21 Follow-up measures for Defense Reform 2.0

Appendix