Seoul, South Korea – South Korea will be extending the validity of passports for those yet to complete their mandatory military service, according to a revised enforcement decree of the Passport Act announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

Starting May 1, 2024, all South Korean men who have not fulfilled their military service obligations will be eligible for 10-year multiple-entry passports, aligning with the standard validity period for general citizens.

Previously, the passport validity for those who had not completed their military service was limited to five years. However, the Ministry has decided to remove this restriction, citing that it had little impact on preventing draft dodgers. Additionally, the government recognized that the previous policy imposed an unfair burden on young men.

"This change will eliminate unnecessary discrimination against those who have yet to fulfill their military service and contribute to enhancing the convenience of young people's overseas travel," said Yoon Joo-seok, Director-General of the Consular and Overseas Safety Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Despite this change, the current system of requiring permission for overseas travel by conscripted men will remain in place. The Ministry emphasized that those who wish to travel abroad or stay overseas must obtain prior approval, and failure to do so or to return within the permitted period may result in the revocation of their passport.

"Even with the extended passport validity, those who have not completed their military service must still obtain permission to travel abroad," the Ministry stated. "Failure to do so or to return within the permitted period may result in the revocation of their passport under Article 19 of the Passport Act."

The decision to extend the validity of passports for conscripted men comes after extensive consultations with the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration.