Lee Junseok Pledges to Reduce Officer Service to Two Years and Fully Cover University Tuition

Integration of Basic Military Training for Enlisted Soldiers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Officers
Opportunities for Outstanding Trainees to Become Non-Commissioned Officers and Officers

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, pledged on April 30 to reduce the minimum service period for non-commissioned officers and officers to two years and to fully cover university tuition for the duration of their service.

On this day, Lee announced a military service system reform policy centered on these promises through a policy briefing. Specifically, the plan includes: ▲ integrating basic military training for enlisted soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers into a single four-week program; ▲ offering high-performing trainees the opportunity to apply for non-commissioned officer and officer positions, with four months of candidate training for those selected; and ▲ providing an incentive for junior officer service by waiving university tuition for a total of two years, corresponding to the length of service.

The policy headquarters of Lee Junseok's campaign stated, "With the overall troop numbers declining due to low birth rates and shortened service periods, the role of junior officers has become even more important to maintain combat efficiency with limited manpower. If bold incentives are not provided for military officer service, there could be serious issues in maintaining national defense capabilities," they said.

Smiling Presidential Candidate Lee Junseok

(Daejeon=Yonhap News) Photo by Kang Suhwan - Reform New Party presidential candidate Lee Junseok is smiling while attending the Korean Medical Association regular general assembly held at DCC in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon on the morning of April 27, 2025.

According to statistics presented by the campaign, the number of South Korean military personnel decreased from 560,000 in 2019 to 470,000 in 2023. Additionally, among universities operating ROTC programs, the number of schools failing to meet enrollment quotas rose sharply from 3 schools (2%) in 2020 to 81 schools (75%) in 2023.

This proposed military service reform is reportedly benchmarked after the Singaporean system. In Singapore, all conscripts undergo nine weeks of basic training, after which non-commissioned officers and officers are selected from among those who complete the training.

A campaign official stated, "It is true that improved pay for regular soldiers has significantly reduced the incentive for officer service. The clear goal of a Lee Junseok administration is to systematically improve and produce higher-quality officer personnel, as well as to further modernize the military to maintain a robust security posture."