There are calls on-site to revise the military exception system at the 'dual vocational school' aimed at addressing the labor shortage in small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthening student expertise. This is because male students are choosing military service instead of the military exception, leading to cases where they leave the workforce.
According to the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) on the 18th, there are about 140 'dual vocational schools,' with over 5,000 students participating. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Employment and Labor introduced the dual vocational education model from Germany and Switzerland in 2014, starting a program for specialized high school students to combine work and study.
Students are employed in small and medium-sized enterprises in the 2nd or 3rd year according to their major and curriculum, attending school in the morning and working in the afternoon, or spending 3 to 4 days a week at corporations. There are over 2,000 participating corporations.
The employment rate is relatively good. Incheon Bupyeong Industrial High School, which ranked first in this year's national vocational school performance evaluation, has recorded an average employment rate of 90% from 2023 to 2025. The fact that students can earn income at an early age and can fulfill their military obligations for 34 months under the military exception at the company where they are employed instead of enlisting is a factor that attracts them.
Small and medium-sized enterprises suffering from labor shortages have secured young technicians and stabilized site operations, but the recent situation is changing. With the military service period shortening and salaries rising, cases are emerging where individuals shift to military service after employment. The active-duty service periods are gradually shortening to 18 months for the Army, 20 months for the Navy, and 21 months for the Air Force, while the military exception service period remains at 34 months.
The significant increase in soldiers' salaries, which allows for a certain level of income during military service, is also contributing to the departure from small and medium-sized enterprises. When enlisting as soldiers, they receive about 20 million won for the Army, 23 million won for the Navy, and 25 million won for the Air Force until the end of their service. With additional savings for post-service support, such as the Military Preparation Savings, the total exceeds 30 million won.
A graduate of a specialized high school who joined the military after resigning from a job said, "If you get a job at a small and medium-sized enterprise, you receive a salary in the low 2 million won range each month, which is not much different from the salary received upon enlistment," adding that "many friends feel it is better to finish military duties quickly and find a job at a mid-sized company."
Won Young-mi, CEO of a automotive parts manufacturing company, noted that "the military exception system has played an important role in helping students acquire skills in manufacturing and the foundational industries like the root industries of the country and encouraging long-term employment, but recently, the incentives have been diminishing."
The military exception is a matter defined by the Military Service Act and requires legal amendments, but related discussions are not progressing. Currently, there are discussions on expanding the military-designated companies limited to small and medium-sized enterprises to large corporations in order to secure talent for key industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), and easing restrictions on the transfer of specialized research personnel.
A National Assembly official said, "There have been similar complaints from small and medium-sized enterprises recently, so we are aware of the issue," but he added that "while the foundational manufacturing industry is important, it seems that the problem of overseas outflow of personnel in the semiconductor and AI fields is being prioritized urgently."