Military service in Korea, briefly
Most Korean men must complete mandatory military service. K-pop idols are no exception, which is why fans count down to an idol’s discharge (전역, jeonyeok), and why people with a Korean partner or friend often want to know exactly when service ends. The length depends on the type of service:
| Service type | Length | Enlisted 2026-01-06 → discharged |
|---|---|---|
| Army (육군) | 18 months | 2027-07-05 |
| Marine Corps (해병대) | 18 months | 2027-07-05 |
| Full-time reservist (상근예비역) | 18 months | 2027-07-05 |
| Navy (해군) | 20 months | 2027-09-05 |
| Air Force (공군) | 21 months | 2027-10-05 |
| Social service agent (사회복무요원) | 21 months | 2027-10-05 |
Social service agents serve at public offices or facilities instead of a military unit.
How the date is calculated
The enlistment day counts as day one, so the discharge date is the enlistment date plus the service months, minus one day. If the final month has no matching day (for example enlisting on 31 August and finishing in February), the last day of that month is used. The calculator shows the discharge date with the weekday, a D-day countdown, days served, total service days and a progress bar.
Keep in mind
Only the statutory service length is used. Soldiers may use leave right before discharge and leave the base earlier than the official date, and extensions (for example for disciplinary reasons) are not included. Official dates come from the unit or the Military Manpower Administration (병무청). For other countdowns, try the date calculator; to see how old someone will be, use the age calculator.