Explained: South Korea & Other Asian Countries With Conscription Laws

Although BTS is one of the world's most successful bands, South Korea is not bending the rules for them. All seven members of the K-pop group have to serve in the military.

In the first of seven, Jin, a BTS member who turns 30 this year, will begin the process of joining the military at the end of October. 

Earlier, Lee Ki Sik, the commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, said that fulfilling BTS members' military responsibilities are "desirable" to preserve fairness in the country's military duty.

South Korea and other countries have similar laws but in India, there are not any conscription laws and never had been. Joining the Indian armed forces has been voluntary. However, Article 23 of the Indian constitution provides a clause allowing the union government to mandate conscription to secure the nation's interest and the public's broader well-being. Here, we look at some Asian countries with Military conscriptions: 

South Korea

According to South Korea's Constitution, as the country is still at war with North Korea, all people have the duty of national defence. 

Every able-bodied Korean man is required by law to serve in the military for at least 18 months. People can be admitted to military duty at any time between the ages of 18 and 28. However, the age to enter service depends on a variety of circumstances, including education. Women are not compelled to serve in the military, although they may enlist freely.

North Korea

North Korea is the country with the longest compulsory military service. Men in the country must serve for 11 years, while women must serve for seven years. It was voluntary for women until 2015, but it has become mandatory now.

Russia

Conscription in Russia has been since the Soviet era and it takes place twice a year, from 1 April to 15 July (spring) and from 1 October to 31 December (autumn). During these times, men between the ages of 18 and 27, with no health difficulties or existing convictions, might be called up to serve.

After an 8-month training period, conscripts are assigned to specific regiments, and after a year of mandatory service, soldiers become members of the military reserves. However, because of the ongoing war, there are reports saying that all abled men are to be sent to the border to fight against the Ukrainian army.

Ukraine

The country has always had conscription like Russia. Under the law, men have to serve 12 to 18 months in the military. However, following the conflict, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy imposed martial law. Men between the ages of 18 and 60 were barred from leaving the nation with few exceptions.

Iran

In Iran, all men over the age of 18 must serve in the military for 18 to 24 months with exemptions for health reasons and for men over the age of 18 with fathers over the age of 60. If men do not follow conscription, they could lose their civil rights, including being ineligible for government positions and being barred from leaving the country.

Apart from these countries, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Eritrea, Brazil and Syria also have some kind of compulsory conscription laws.