3. The Republic of Korea
Military budget in 2015 in USD billions: 33.5
Compulsory Service Length
Men: 21 – 24 months, depending on the branch, minimum requirement a high school diploma.
South Korea’s public has an ambivalent relation to compulsory military service. It is subject to a harsh critique and repeated calls for its dismissal can often be heard in the media. On the other hand, draft dodgers are exposed to even more scrutiny, and even a hint of wrongdoings can land a person in a world of trouble. There are many examples of celebrities whose careers have been ruined after it was discovered that they have tried to avoid conscription, like the so-called Toothless Rapper. ROK Armed Forces maintain a half a million strong active force, mostly because of their northern neighbors on the peninsula and in order to field such a large all-volunteer force of professionals, it would need to increase its military spending by 25%, something Seoul isn’t ready to do.
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