Anchor: One of President Moon Jae-in's key election promises was to reduce the time young soldiers spend serving in the country's military. A final plan to implement that promise is expected within the month.
Our Oh Sooyoung reports.

Report: Seoul is set to shorten the mandatory conscription period in the military from the current 21 months to 18 months.

Defense ministry spokesman Choi Hyun-soo said Thursday that the current administration is still working on its plan to cut down the mandatory military service period by the end of President Moon Jae-in's term in 2022.

Currently, all able-bodied South Korean men are required to serve for 21 months in the army, 23 months in the navy or 24 months in the air force. 

Shortening the mandatory military service for rank-and-file soldiers had been one of Moon's key electoral campaign pledges. 

If the reduction is initiated according to schedule, the spokesman suggested that those who enter the army in November 2020, would be discharged by May 2022, when Moon's presidency ends.

Those who are already serving in the army would also be released according to the shortened timeframe.

Choi told reporters that the government is conducting a final review on the specific time and method to reduce the military service period and will reveal the details when announcing its so-called Defense Reform 2.0 plan, aimed at scaling down but strengthening the South Korean military.

The final version of the reform plan is expected to be completed within the month, before it is reported to the presidential office.
Oh Sooyoung, KBS World Radio News.