"By 2030, 5% of Conscripts Will Come from Multicultural Families"

Korea Defense Research Institute Publishes Analysis Report
Forecasts Over 10,000 Soldiers from Multicultural Families

It has been analyzed that by 2030, the enlistment rate of soldiers from multicultural families will reach around 5%.

The Ministry of National Defense is promoting a plan to automatically grant 9 credits to military enlistment candidates who are enrolled in university when they enlist.

On the 11th, Hong Suk-ji, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), made this forecast in a report titled "Suggestions for the Development Direction of Military Multicultural Policies."

Since the revision of the Military Service Act in 2009, individuals holding South Korean nationality, regardless of race or skin color, have been subject to military service obligations, leading to the enlistment of soldiers from multicultural families.

According to Research Fellow Hong, the number of soldiers from multicultural families, which was only 51 in 2010, exceeded 1,000 in 2018 alone, and is predicted to reach around 10,000 by 2030.

In terms of percentage, it was about 1% in 2022, but due to the decrease in the number of enlisted soldiers caused by low birth rates, Hong forecasts that the rate will maintain around 5% starting from 2030.

Hong pointed out that "current support policies for multicultural soldiers are limited to minimal welfare such as some religious and dietary support," and emphasized the need to create an environment where multicultural soldiers can serve smoothly as members of the military.

He stressed that after confirming the Korean language communication level of soldiers from multicultural families, their aptitude and other factors should be considered for job assignments, and that openly distinguishing multicultural soldiers could be considered discriminatory and is therefore inappropriate.

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