A teacher was explaining korean military service. They have to go for two years continuous at any point between age 20 and 30. They dont know when they will be called so this makes it very hard to plan things like marriage, kids, starting a business, buying a home, further studies, etc. It used to be longer but now they have reduced it to two years. He has already done his.

In the first six months he got 3 days leave, next six 4 days, and every six it increases by a day. They lived in a dorm and had to do training every day, like carrying a 20kg backpack. There are no exemptions from service unless they have physical or mental problems. Most people dont try to resist or leave the country. Another teacher was telling me he was stationed at the DMZ and he didnt seem too happy about his time there.


Even famous K-Pop Star's are not exempt. A came across details of a farewell concert that is being offered for free for one such star that has to enter his military rotation.

Usually around Dongdaegu train station you will see large groups of soldiers congregating. There is a military office there so they probably register for duty and dispatch together in groups to various destinations.

I had heard a while ago about an event planned for foreigners to go on base and participate in military training for the day but I never heard anything further about it.