17% of 21st National Assembly Candidates Exempted from Military Service... Democratic Party and United Party Lead

[Asia Economy Reporter Won Dara] It has been revealed that 17% of the candidates for the 21st National Assembly did not serve in the military.

According to the military service declaration records of male general election candidates submitted to the National Election Commission on the 26th and 27th, out of 905 registered candidates, 155 (17%) were exempted from military service.

By political party, the Democratic Party of Korea had the highest number of military exemptions with 51 candidates. This was followed by the United Future Party with 28, the National Revolutionary Dividend Party with 28, the Justice Party with 12, the Minjung Party with 8, the Minsheng Party with 6, the Our Republican Party with 2, the Future Party with 1, the Pro-Park Shin Party with 1, and the Grand National Party with 1. There were 17 independent candidates who were exempted from military service.

The reasons for exemption included criminal records, illness, and physical disabilities.

Democratic Party candidates Kim Min-seok (Seoul Yeongdeungpo-gap), Kim Jong-min (Chungnam Nonsan-Gyeryong-Geumsan), Lee Kwang-jae (Gangwon Wonju-gap), Lee Hu-sam (Chungbuk Jecheon-Danyang), Jung Cheong-rae (Seoul Mapo-eul), and Choi In-ho (Busan Saha-gap) were exempted from military service due to criminal records related to pro-democracy movements.

Democratic Party candidate Kim Young-bae (Seoul Seongbuk-gap) was exempted due to a herniated disc, and fellow party member Kim Byung-wook (Gyeonggi Seongnam Bundang-eul) did not serve due to a skull defect.

United Future Party candidate Jang Jin-young (Seoul Dongjak-gap) and independent candidate Moon Seok-gyun (Gyeonggi Uijeongbu-gap), son of National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang, were also exempted from military service due to myopia. Candidate Chu Kyung-ho (Daegu Dalseong) was exempted from conscription due to pulmonary tuberculosis. Independent candidate Kim Jong-hoe (Jeonbuk Gimje-Buan) also did not serve due to illness.

United Future Party candidate Tae Young-ho (Taegumin, Seoul Gangnam-gap), who defected from North Korea, was classified as having "no military record," and Future Party candidate Oh Tae-yang (Seoul Gwangjin-eul) was imprisoned for violating military service laws after declaring conscientious objection to military service.

Meanwhile, among 213 female candidates, one had military service experience. Pro-Park Shin Party candidate Do Yeo-jung (Seoul Gangnam-byeong) served in the army from 1991 to 2004 (service unit: Armed Forces Changdong Hospital, military specialty: nursing) and was discharged as a captain.