While the acceptance rate to the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) is falling sharply all over the country, the situation of Pusan National University (PNU) ROTC seems similar. 

The ROTC national competition rate, which was 4.8 to 1 in 2015, plummeted to 2.4 to 1 in 2022. PNU did likewise. According to an official at PNU ROTC, the PNU competition rate, which was at the level of 3:1, has substantially declined, and is currently maintaining a competition rate of 2:1. 

The reasons for the decline in the ROTC entering competition rate are longer service and the possibility of soldiers being paid more than officers. The service period for ordinary soldiers has been continuously reduced, from 36 months in 1968 to 18 months in 2022. However, ROTC's service period has been suspended at 28 months, which was decided in 1968. 

The goal of many ROTC cadets which is to “raise lump sum” is also becoming vague. This is because the benefits have decreased as the salaries of ordinary soldiers are considerably on the rise. In January, the Ministry of National Defense raised the sergeant's salary to 1,000,000 won starting this year. According to President Yoon Suk Yeol's pledge when he was a candidate, it will rise to 1,500,000 won by 2025. The first salary of second lieutenant commissioned after graduating from ROTC for 1 month now is 1,750,000 won, which is not much different from the sergeant's.

COVID-19 also made it difficult to promote the ROTC. Kim Ku-Hyun (Dept. of English Language & Literature, 20) who is a battalion commander candidate said, “Many students negatively perceive ROTC hierarchy and officer duties. It seems that misperceptions of people who have not had the experience directly lead to a decrease in acceptance rate.” Shin Mun-Gyeong (Dept. of Social Welfare Studies, 20) cadet said, “Most students expect that ROTC will have a long service period and will not make them study major subjects. In fact, it is a good opportunity to study military science as well as major subjects, and to form a high quality human network and leadership skills.”

As ROTC plays a key role as an organization that produces 70% of military elementary officers, there is a call for policy support that can activate the ROTC. Yoo Dong-Ho (administrator, ROTC) said, “It's hard to make a big difference in school. The Army's own policy initiatives have high importance and the army is actually making several attempts.” According to PNU ROTC, the Army is currently pursuing a policy to reduce the ROTC’s service term from 28 months to 24 months. The Army is attempting to change the overall ROTC policy by raising short-term service incentives to 2,600,000 won by 2025 and paying salaries to cadets.

PNU ROTC is recruiting candidates for the 64th and 65th ROTC from March 2nd to April 5th, 2023. ROTC is an institution that nurtures elementary officers with their major field of study and military knowledge. It will select excellent students among the students and conduct military education for two years. PNU ROTC was founded in 1961 and has produced 4,237 entry-level officers so far. ROTC goes through the "admission training" period and "school education" for about two years. After graduation, they will be commissioned as a second lieutenant and do military service for 28 months.

Reporter Sim Se-Hee

Translated by Lim Chae-Kyung