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Korea, South - Military (Facts)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Republic of Korea Air Force (Han-guk Kong Goon), Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (coast guard) (2006) Military service age and obligation: 20-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved (to be reduced by 6 months beginning 2014); 18 years of age for voluntary military service; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of all officers; women, in service since 1950, are admitted to seven service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps (2007) Manpower available for military service: males age 20-49: 12,483,677 females age 20-49: 12,014,462 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 20-49: 10,115,817 females age 20-49: 9,721,914 (2005 est.) Manpower reaching military service age annually: males age 18-49: 344,943 females age 20-49: 312,720 (2005 est.)