The government and the ruling Uri Party decided Friday to maintain the current system of allowing alternatives to compulsory military service.

The alternative service law, which was to be repealed from next year, is now set to remain in place until 2012.

South Korean men who cannot fulfill the nation's obligatory military duty have been allowed to serve in other areas as an alternative service.

Ruling party and government officials also decided to shorten the period of alternative service for specialized researchers from the current four years to three. Also, the number of people working in public sectors as an alternative to military duty will be decreased by 6,600 next year.

The measure is aimed at providing incentives to students majoring in the science and engineering fields.