South Korea: Rich young men 'more likely to avoid service'

Young men from richer, better educated families in South Korea are more likely to avoid active military service, a report suggests.

And the sons of military officers are among the least likely to complete the service, along with those of religious figures, broadcasters and academics, according to Chosun Ilbo newspaper. It's published the results of a survey of 39,000 young men by Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training which suggest the more parents earn, the less likely their children are to perform active military duty. Some 7.5% of men with college-educated fathers performed some kind of alternative service for those physically unfit for active duty, compared with 5.5% of those with less educated fathers, it says.

Military service is compulsory in South Korea, where all young men must serve up to two years in the armed forces or up to three in a non-active role such as the civil service. Exceptions may be granted if the government deems a person's job serves the national interest or - as was most often the case - to help when their parents are unemployed. South Korean medal winners from the 2012 London Olympics were declared exempt from conscription altogether but still had to put in four weeks' basic training.

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