South Korea proposes to eliminate military service exemptions for scientists
JUN 14, 2016
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029893
Nature : In South Korea, all able-bodied men between 18 and 35 years old are required to serve two years in the military, with few exceptions. Those exceptions include technical research personnel (TRP), roughly 2500 men with master’s degrees in science and engineering. Instead of serving active duty, students can either enter a PhD program for three years or take a research position in the government or private industry. On 17 May the South Korean defense ministry announced a predicted shortfall of up to 30 000 troops by 2023. The ministry’s proposed solution is to eliminate all exemptions, including TRP, beginning in 2018.
© 2016 American Institute of Physics
