Alternatives shrink for military service
The Military Manpower Administration reported Friday that it would reduce the number of "alternative conscripts" who work mostly at defense firms and research institutes as an alternative to military service. An administration official said it would reduce the number of positions from 17,000 to 8,000 next year as a shortage of soldiers is expected.The administration plans to maintain the number of alternative conscripts at defense firms and marine transportation companies; most of the cuts would come at research institutes and other state firms.
"The number of new [army] recruits will drop due to the government's birth control policy in the 1970s and '80s," an administration official said. The official said the army would see a shortfall of 70,000 soldiers in 2008 if people who would have served in alternative fields are not inducted as regular soldiers.
The administration will bar firms with fewer than 30 employees from hiring men in alternative services. Currently companies in some industries with more than five employees may hire the alternative conscripts. Companies that have violated regulations of the program will be removed from consideration, the agency said.
by Kim Min-seok
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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