Military pushes to prime rank-and-filers for job market upon discharge

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, July 20 (Yonhap) -- The military said Monday it is pushing to have every
one of its rank-and-file soldiers obtain a vocational certificate during their
mandatory service by 2012.
About 30 percent of them currently have one or two vocational certificates under
a system that allows them to study during their off-duty hours, according to the
Ministry of National Defense.
The ministry, which oversees a 655,000-strong military, said in a statement that
it plans to ease regulations and expand incentives for those hoping to obtain a
vocational certificate while serving.
All able-bodied South Korean men are required to serve in the military for at
least 22 months. Military tension has lingered on the Korean Peninsula since the
1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
The number of types of vocational certificates the military can independently
issue to a soldier is 94, which will be expanded to 120, excluding a driver's
license, the ministry said.
"The plan is aimed at helping soldiers better contribute to the economy after
their discharge," it said.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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