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Military Service Exemptions for Athletes and Artists Stir Debate in South Korea

Military Service Exemptions for Athletes and Artists Stir Debate in South Korea

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – When Choo Shin-soo, one of South Korea’s most successful Major League Baseball players, recently addressed longstanding rumors about avoiding national team duty after receiving a military service exemption, his explanation that “the team opposed it” did little to quell public criticism.  Despite his distinguished 16-year career in American baseball, online [...]

New Head of Military Recruitment Agency Pledges Reforms in Supplementary Military Service

New Head of Military Recruitment Agency Pledges Reforms in Supplementary Military Service

SEOUL, May 13 (Korea Bizwire) – The new chief of the military recruitment agency pledged Monday to push for changes in the country’s supplementary military system as questions arose over its fairness with an exemption of top athletes and musicians from conscription. Kim Jong-cheol, the new commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, made the remark [...]

Over 8,000 Permanent Residents Volunteer for Military Service over Past 2 Decades

Over 8,000 Permanent Residents Volunteer for Military Service over Past 2 Decades

SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Over 8,000 permanent residents have fulfilled South Korea’s military service over the past two decades under a voluntary enrollment system, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) said Thursday. The manpower agency adopted the voluntary enrollment system in 2004 to allow overseas residents whose mandatory military service was exempted or postponed [...]

Rising Number of South Korean Men Renouncing Citizenship Sparks Debate on Military Service and Foreign Conscription

Rising Number of South Korean Men Renouncing Citizenship Sparks Debate on Military Service and Foreign Conscription

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – According to a recent report, over the last five years, more than 20,000 men have relinquished their South Korean citizenship. This information is based on data provided by the Military Manpower Administration to the National Assembly, which is currently conducting a national security audit. The data reveals that between 2019 and [...]

South Koreans Question Military Service Exemptions After Asian Games

South Koreans Question Military Service Exemptions After Asian Games

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – Following the Hangzhou Asian Games, which captivated the nation with a gold-medal performance from the men’s soccer team in a thrilling victory over Japan, attention is now turning to the bestowal of honors. Korean athletes achieved remarkable results during the Asian Games, but the military service exemption granted to gold [...]

Unfit Individuals Mistakenly Enlisted in Military Due to Examination Errors

Unfit Individuals Mistakenly Enlisted in Military Due to Examination Errors

SEOUL, July 11 (Korea Bizwire) — A number of individuals unfit for military service were erroneously enlisted due to errors in their physical examinations. The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) said that four individuals unfit for military service were mistakenly enlisted due to errors in their physical examinations, which took place between 2016 and April of [...]

Court Rejects Appeal by Self-proclaimed Socialist Seeking Alternative Military Service

Court Rejects Appeal by Self-proclaimed Socialist Seeking Alternative Military Service

SEOUL, May 16 (Korea Bizwire) — An appellate court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal filed by a self-proclaimed socialist to reverse the conscription agency’s refusal to allow him alternative military service. Since late 2020, the South Korea has operated an alternative military service system, allowing young men to replace their mandatory military service with an [...]