South Korea’s military service system in the international spotlight this week after soccer fans called for their star player, Son Heung-min, to get an exemption from his service
South Korea will for the first time allow conscientious objectors to do some form of community service instead of the two years of military service that all men have to do.
South Korea, which is still technically at war with rival North Korea, is one of the few countries that has mandatory conscription for all men.
South Korea’s military service system has been in the international spotlight this week after South Korean soccer fans called for their star player, Son Heung-min, to get an exemption from his service.
The Ministry of Defence has said Son must do his military service.
Son will turn 26 at the start of July and that means he is due to start the 21-month obligatory military service all South Koreans have to carry out before they are 28.
But in the first hint of reform of the strict system, the ministry said on Thursday that for the first time, conscientious objectors would soon be allowed to do alternative service.
