Hong So-young, Administrator of the Military Manpower Administration, visited the 17th Fighter Wing of the Air Force (Cheongju, Chungbuk) on the 2nd to hold a meeting with Air Force soldiers. Military Manpower Administration

The selection method for Air Force personnel will change starting next year.

The Military Manpower Administration announced on the 19th that starting next year, Air Force general enlistees, who were previously selected based on the highest scores by summing up qualifications and license points, will now be chosen through a random computer-based lottery system.

Unlike specialized technical personnel and specialized skill personnel who require specific technical skills, Air Force general enlistment is a recruitment method that allows applications regardless of qualifications, licenses, or majors. However, due to the perception of relatively favorable working conditions, a large number of applicants have resulted in selection based on a points system.

Consequently, there was an overheated competition, with applicants obtaining certifications and accumulating volunteer hours through blood donation to earn bonus points.

A Military Manpower Administration official explained, "We have improved the selection method to resolve the phenomenon of recruitment applications being concentrated in certain branches and to reduce the burden on applicants." He added, "Although selection is done by lottery, unlike the KATUSA (Korean Augmentation Troops to the United States Army) recruitment, where applications are limited to once, Air Force applications can be submitted multiple times."

The selection cycle will change from the existing 'once a month selection, enlistment after 3 months' to 'twice a year selection, enlistment the following year.'

However, Air Force specialized technical personnel and specialized skill personnel will continue to be recruited based on the highest scores, including qualifications and license points, as before. The monthly recruitment cycle will also be maintained.

The Military Manpower Administration has decided to apply the same method to the selection of general enlistees for the Navy and Marine Corps starting the year after next.

In addition, the Military Manpower Administration will abolish the reflection of high school attendance records in the selection of military personnel across all branches, and also abolish the interview evaluation for all branches, except for the recruitment of some specialized skill personnel such as JSA guards and honor guards.

The random computer-based lottery system for Air Force general enlistment will be applied from the application period in April next year.

By Reporter Lim Yo-hee