Military Service Examination Information
| Age 18 | Enrollment in the First Citizen Service Category (Identification of Persons Subject to the Military Service Examination) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 19 | Military Service Examination | ||||||
| Qualified | Not Qualified | ||||||
| Physical Grades 1–4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | ||||
| Age 20 | Postponement of Enlistment | Two-Year Colleges Four-Year Universities Graduate Schools, Colleges of Korean Medicine, Medicine, and Dentistry Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, Korean Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine, Universities and Graduate Schools |
Fulfillment of Military Service Obligations - Active Duty Service (24 months) - Full-Time Reserve Service (24 months) - Public Service Personnel (26 months) - Skilled Industrial Personnel (34 months) - Technical Research Personnel (3 years) |
Second Citizen Service Category: Subject to Wartime Labor Mobilization | Exempt from Military Service | Final Determination Within One Year Following Reexamination | |
| Age 22 | Eight Years in the Reserve Forces | ||||||
| Age 24 | |||||||
| Age 26 | |||||||
| Age 27 | |||||||
| Age 28 | |||||||
| Age 30 | Draft Evaders and Persons Who Have Failed to Return from Overseas | ||||||
| Age 35 | |||||||
| Age 45 | Extended Service During Wartime | ||||||
Information for Persons Subject to the Military Service Examination
Those subject to a military service examination include persons who turn 19 in the relevant year, persons who are required to undergo the examination at age 20 due to military manpower supply and demand, persons whose grounds for postponement, such as overseas study, have ceased to apply, and others who are required by law to undergo a military service examination. In particular, all university students nationwide may choose their preferred examination date and location during the vacation periods (February, July, and August). Applications can be submitted through [Military Manpower Administration] → [Choose Military Service Examination Date and Location].
Examination Date and Location
- Date : According to the examination schedule issued by the regional Military Manpower Administration office responsible for the applicant’s place of residence
- Location : A hospital designated by the regional Military Manpower Administration office responsible for the applicant’s place of residence
- (Article 11 of the Military Service Act and Article 13 of the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act)
Items to Bring to the Military Service Examination
| Eligible Persons | Required Items |
|---|---|
| All Persons Subject to the Military Service Examination | Military Service Examination Notice, Personal Information and Medical Condition Statement, and a photo ID such as a student ID card or resident registration card |
| Persons with a Technical Qualification or License | Qualification certificate or license |
| Persons Who Did Not Complete High School or a Higher Level of Education | Certificate of Educational Attainment for Military Service Purposes issued by the head of the last school attended. Persons who did not complete elementary school must also submit an affidavit of personal witnesses and an educational background statement. |
| Persons with a History of Illness Who Wish to Submit Medical Records | Medical certificate for military service purposes, relevant supporting documents, or radiographic films |
| Convicted Persons | Applicable document: court judgment copy, incarceration certificate, prisoner record copy |
| Family Members of Persons Killed or Wounded in Action or in the Line of Duty | Family register transcript or removed family register transcript, and a certificate of national merit issued by the head of the relevant regional veterans affairs office or branch office |
Military Service Examination Process
- Personal Information Statement: Enter educational background, aptitude, preferred enlistment period, and related information
- Personality Assessment: Identify tendencies associated with mental illness and antisocial personality traits
- Physical Examination: Assess the condition of each part of the body and determine the physical grade (Grades 1–7)
- Aptitude Classification: Assign a military occupational category based on qualifications, licenses, academic major, and related factors
- Military Service Classification: Grades 1–3: Active Duty; Grade 4: Supplementary Service; Grade 5: Second Citizen Service; Grade 6: Exemption from Military Service; Grade 7: Subject to Reexamination
Standards for Military Service Classification by Education Level and Physical Grade
| Category | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University | Active Duty | Supplementary Service | Second Citizen Service | Exemption from Military Service | Reexamination Required | ||
| High School Graduate | |||||||
| High School Dropout | |||||||
| Middle School Graduate | |||||||
- Applicable to persons subject to the Military Service Examination on or after January 27, 2005
- Transitional Measure: The active-duty classification for university-educated persons assigned Physical Grade 4 applies to Military Service Examinations conducted on or after January 27, 2005.
- This standard applies to regular examination candidates aged 19. However, the following persons shall be classified for Supplementary Service according to the 2004 military service classification standards.
- ※ Persons examined on or before January 26, 2005 whose military service classification remains pending; persons assigned Physical Grade 4 following a physical examination for a classification change; and persons aged 20 or older designated for a separate Military Service Examination in 2005
Penalties for Failure to Undergo the Military Service Examination
A person who fails to undergo the Military Service Examination for no valid reason, a person who makes delivery of the examination notice impossible by failing to report a change of residence, and a person who receives the examination notice on behalf of another person but fails to deliver it to that person may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to six months under the Military Service Act.
Deferment of Enlistment for Enrolled Students
Eligibility applies to high school students, students at higher educational institutions, plus students taking a temporary absence. Each student must remain below the applicable deferment age. Eligible categories: active-duty enlistment candidates; supplementary-service candidates scheduled for public service duty.
Students do not need to submit individual deferment applications. The school submits a list of enrolled students to the Military Manpower Administration, and deferment is processed automatically.
Age Limits for Enlistment Deferment
| High School | Junior College | University | Graduate School | Medical Program | Judicial Research and Training Institute | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Year Program | Three-Year Program | Four-Year Program | Six-Year Program | Medicine, Dentistry, or Korean Medicine | Four Semesters | Five or Six Semesters | |||
| Until Graduation from the School | Age 22 | Age 23 | Age 24 | Age 26 | Age 27 | Age 26 | Age 27 | Age 28 | Age 26 |
Enlistment Deferment Exclusions
- Persons expelled or removed from the school register
- Persons who submitted an Enlistment or Call-Up Application for Enrolled Students
- Persons who committed an offense specified under Article 86 of the Military Service Act concerning flight, concealment, and related acts; Article 87 concerning evasion of the Military Service Examination; or Article 94 concerning violation of overseas travel permit requirements
Submission of an Enlistment or Call-Up Application for Enrolled Students
Eligible Applicants
Persons classified for active duty or supplementary service whose enlistment is currently deferred due to enrollment at a university or graduate school
Submission Channels
Civil Service Office of the regional Military Manpower Administration, online application through the Military Manpower Administration website, or the Student Support Division of the university
Required Document
Enlistment or Call-Up Application for Enrolled Students Forms are available at each submission channel or may be downloaded online.
Preferred Enlistment Period
Applicants seeking active-duty enlistment near the end of the academic year, from December to early February, or near the end of a semester, from June to early August, should submit the application by the end of November each year. Early submission increases the likelihood that the preferred enlistment period will be reflected, particularly for applicants planning to return to school after discharge.
Enlistment Schedule
An enlistment notice is generally issued for the applicant’s preferred period, subject to the annual military intake plan. If many applicants request the same period, such as the end of a semester, enlistment schedules are assigned through the computerized system based on submission timing, earliest first. Consequently, enlistment may occur later than the preferred period.
Change of Preferred Enlistment Period for Enrolled Students
- An applicant may submit one request to change the preferred enlistment period.
- Submission Channels : Civil Service Office of the regional Military Manpower Administration or the Military Manpower Administration website
- Persons who already received an enlistment notice are not eligible.
Benefits of Submitting an Enlistment Application
- Students seeking military service may submit an Enlistment or Call-Up Application for Enrolled Students before taking a leave of absence. After receiving the enlistment or call-up notice, they may take a leave of absence, thereby reducing the waiting period before enlistment.
- Classes may continue until enlistment, minimizing interruption to academic studies.
Cancellation of an Enlistment or Call-Up Application for Enrolled Students
An applicant seeking cancellation due to a valid reason may cancel the application regardless of whether an enlistment notice has been issued. However, cancellation may be restricted after submission of a request to change the preferred enlistment period. A person seeking enlistment again after cancellation may submit a new application two months after the cancellation date.
Active-Duty Enlistment
Benefits of Submitting an Enlistment Application
- Determination and Notification of the Enlistment Date
- A person classified for active-duty enlistment after the Military Service Examination generally enters military service during the examination year or the following year.
- A person seeking enlistment at age 19 may enter military service during the examination year.
- The enlistment date and assigned military unit are determined fairly through a computerized process.
- The preferred enlistment period stated during the Military Service Examination is reflected as much as possible. The enlistment date and assigned military unit are determined by December 31 of the examination year, and the details are provided through ARS and the Military Manpower Administration website.
- The applicant’s preferred enlistment period is reflected as much as possible. However, if many applicants request the same period, the enlistment date is determined according to the planned intake after consideration of academic major, educational background, physical grade, and related factors. Enlistment may therefore occur earlier or later than the preferred period.
- Preparation and Delivery of the Enlistment Notice
- The enlistment notice is delivered to the person concerned no later than 30 days before the enlistment date.
- A person receiving an enlistment notice must collect the enlistment travel allowance at a nearby post office during the period stated in the travel allowance notice, beginning 30 days before enlistment and ending before the enlistment date.
Benefits of Submitting an Enlistment Application
- Army / Marine Corps : 24 months
- Navy : 26 months
- Air Force : 27 months
Penalties for Enlistment Evasion and Related Offenses
| Grounds | Supporting Documents |
|---|---|
| Refusal to Receive an Enlistment Notice and Neglect of Delivery (Article 85 of the Military Service Act) | A person responsible for receiving or delivering an active-duty enlistment notice shall be subject to imprisonment for up to six months or a fine not exceeding KRW 1 million upon refusal to receive the notice, failure to deliver it, or delay in delivery in the absence of a justifiable reason. |
| Enlistment Evasion (Article 88 of the Military Service Act) | A person who receives an active-duty enlistment notice and fails to enlist within five days from the designated enlistment date in the absence of a justifiable reason shall be subject to imprisonment for up to three years. A person who enlists on behalf of another person shall be subject to imprisonment for a period ranging from one year to three years. |
Penalties for Enlistment Evasion and Related Offenses
- An application to postpone the enlistment date, accompanied by the required documents, must be submitted to the head of the regional Military Manpower Administration no later than the day before enlistment. The application will be reviewed, and the result will be provided to the applicant.
- If an unexpected event leaves insufficient time for advance submission, the applicant may report the matter by telegram, telephone, or verbal notice. The postponement application and required documents must then be submitted no later than three days after the report.
- Filing Office by Deferment Reason
Filing Office by Deferment Reason - Reason for Deferment, Deferment Period, Required Documents Reason for Deferment Deferment Period Required Documents Illness or Physical or Mental Impairment - Deferment for up to 90 days
- For a person who submits an application for a military service status change or exemption, deferment continues until the first scheduled physical examination.
* Medical certificate for military service purposes issued by a medical institution Need to Manage Family Affairs Due to Critical Illness, Death, or a Similar Event - Deferment for up to 30 days
- If continued nursing care is essential, an additional deferment of up to 30 days may be granted.
* Supporting document proving the relevant circumstances Natural Disaster or Other Emergency - Deferment for up to 60 days
* Supporting document proving the relevant circumstances Unknown Whereabouts - A person who failed to report a change of residence shall be reported to the authorities. Processing continues under the Military Service Offense Enforcement Guidelines until the reason is resolved.
* None Military Recruitment Examination - Initial deferment continues until the announcement of results. A successful applicant may receive one additional deferment until the applicable enlistment date. If the examination has a first stage, such as an interview, plus a second stage, processing shall follow confirmation of the applicable result.
- A person who passed a military recruitment examination through voluntary application or received a recruitment notice may receive one deferment until the applicable enlistment date. This includes a person previously granted one enlistment-date deferment due to a military application.
* None Awaiting Departure After Approval for Overseas Travel - For overseas emigration, deferment may continue for up to one year, but not beyond age 29. A person older than 29 who is clearly expected to depart may receive an additional deferment of up to six months.
- For overseas travel, deferment may continue for up to 60 days. A person clearly expected to depart may receive an additional deferment of up to 30 days.
* None Admission to a University or Graduate School - A prospective university student may receive deferment until the end of May in the year of the applicant's 21st birthday.
- A prospective graduate student, including a prospective doctoral student, plus a prospective university transfer student, may receive deferment until the end of February in the year following university graduation or program completion.
* None
* Graduation or program completion certificateDetention or Imprisonment - A detained person, including a person awaiting trial, may receive deferment until the reason is resolved.
* A report must be made immediately after release.
* Detention confirmation or incarceration certificate Simultaneous Military Service by Siblings - If siblings are scheduled to serve at the same time as active-duty personnel, full-time reserve personnel, or public service personnel, one sibling may receive deferment for up to two years upon request.
* A service certificate is unnecessary if service status can be confirmed through internal records.
* Certificate of military service status Employment Examination Administered by a Government or Public Institution, Including an Organization - Deferment until the employment examination date, limited to two occasions
- A successful applicant from the first-stage examination who plans to take the second-stage examination in the next session may receive deferment until that examination date upon request.
※ If the examination schedule spans six months or more, processing shall follow confirmation of the first-stage or second-stage result.
* Examination registration receipt or copy of the first-stage pass certificate Candidate for Public Official Appointment - A person registered as a candidate for public official appointment may receive deferment for up to one year.
* Notice of registration as a public official appointment candidate Prospective Applicant for a Physician, Korean Medicine Doctor, or Similar Licensing Examination - A graduate who failed the physician, dentist, Korean medicine doctor, veterinarian, or pharmacist examination and plans to take the next examination held after graduation may receive one deferment until the examination date.
* Graduation certificate and written pledge to take the examination Qualification Examination - A person planning to take the high school equivalency examination may receive one deferment until the examination date. A person who passed only certain subjects and plans to take the next examination may receive deferment until that examination date upon request.
* Examination registration receipt or subject pass certificate Training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute or a Similar Institution - A person who passed the bar examination or an examination for certified public accountants, patent attorneys, physicians, dentists, or similar professionals and is currently undertaking or planning professional training may receive deferment for up to two years, but not beyond age 28.
* Pass certificate or certificate of employment Enrollment at a Vocational Training Institute, Vocational School, or Similar Institution - A middle school graduate or a person possessing equivalent education may receive one deferment until graduation or program completion if enrolled in an advanced technical school, vocational training institute, vocational school, technical education institute, or a training academy offering a technical, skilled-trade, or other service-sector course lasting at least six months for acquisition of a national technical qualification.
* Certificate of enrollment Performance of Essential Public Interest or Government Duties That Cannot Be Assigned to Another Person - Deferment may be granted for up to one year if essential public interest or government duties cannot be assigned to another person, or if another unavoidable circumstance requires deferment.
* Confirmation or certificate proving the relevant reason Other Unavoidable Circumstances - One deferment of up to three months may be granted, provided military recruitment is not disrupted.
* Confirmation or certificate proving the relevant reason If a reason for postponing the enlistment or call-up date arises suddenly and leaves insufficient time to submit an application, the matter may be reported to the head of the regional Military Manpower Administration by telegram, telephone, or a similar method. In such a case, the required documents must be submitted no later than three days after the report.
Implementation of the Personal Choice System for Enlistment Date and Training Unit
Application Period and Eligibility
Among persons whose enlistment is deferred due to university enrollment, only active-duty enlistment candidates may personally choose their enlistment date and training unit.
Implementation of the Personal Choice System for Enlistment Date and Training Unit
Choice of Enlistment Date and Training Unit
- Monitors displaying available enlistment dates and units are installed at the Civil Service Office of each regional Military Manpower Administration. Applications may also be submitted through the Military Manpower Administration website.
- Applicants may freely choose their preferred enlistment date and unit.
- A confirmed enlistment date and unit cannot be canceled at the applicant’s discretion. If the application is canceled, the assigned enlistment unit remains unchanged.
- An enlistment guide is issued after the enlistment date and unit are confirmed.
Overseas Travel Permit for Persons Who Have Not Completed Military Service
Persons Requiring a Permit
A person who has not completed active military service must obtain permission from the head of the regional Military Manpower Administration office before traveling abroad.
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- Overseas Travel Permit Application for short-term travel
- Study Abroad Permit: Admission letter issued by the overseas educational institution