Following the Shortening of Military Service Duration in South Korea … Reducing Recruit Training by One Week
2019-3-18, Korea Times
Basic military training for new recruits is reduced by one week.
The [Republic of Korea] Ministry of National Defense (MND) submitted a report to the National Defense Commission of the National Assembly on March 18, 2019 that stated “the reorganization of the recruits training and education system in connection with the shortening of the service period has been completed.”
Since last year, the Ministry of Defense has reduced the basic military training period for new recruits to 4 weeks by examining the education system and integrating similar subjects. The Air Force and Navy, which had previously maintained a five-week curriculum, are conducting four-week military training starting with the soldiers enlisted on January 1 this year. The Army decided to test a portion of its units for a year and then decide whether or not to apply it across the board. The Marines will receive six weeks of training, reducing their seven-week training by one-week.
Reducing the basic military training period for soldiers is part of the National Defense Reform 2.0; as the period of service is shortened, it is necessary to place new recruits [into units] earlier . The Ministry of National Defense announced that it will shorten its service period in phases from October 1, 2008 to gradually complete the shortening by June 15, 2020. [The service periods for] the Army and Marines are now reduced from 21 months to 18 months, the Navy from 23 months to 20 months, and the Air Force from 24 months to 22 months. The [service duration for] public service workers is reduced from 24 to 21 months, and the industrial/technical worker is reduced from 26 to 23 months
