The government is considering expanding the length of military training for college students in the reserves as part of efforts to beef up Korea’s military readiness and make the system fairer.

“The Defense Ministry is trying to see if there is a way for college students to join mobilized training for reservists, given that they are not required to attend the training,” an official said Friday.

If the plan is implemented, college students who have completed their mandatory military service will be required to take 28 to 36 hours of mobilized training each year. Currently, students are allowed to attend an eight-hour training session at a base near their school instead.

Korean men who complete their mandatory military service must serve for an additional eight years as reservists. The mobilized training program includes shooting drills and combat exercises.

The reserve forces were established in 1968, but the government has allowed college students to undergo shorter training periods since 1971 to give them more time to study.

The move comes as an effort to ensure fair treatment between those who are subject to the training and those who are not.

The ministry said it would also consider obligating public servants to join the annual drill.

Nearly 700,000 men, including prosecutors, teachers, police officers, firefighters and senior government officials, were exempt from the training as of January, according to the ministry.

“The government designated a group of people, like college students, who can enjoy a waiver for mobilized training if their jobs are considered as serving the national interest,” said Na Seng-Yong, an official from the ministry.

“However, things have changed. We need to review the system to see whether it is being fairly operated or could maintain military readiness, given the declining number of reservists,” he said.

The number of reservists across the country reached 4 million in the 1970s, but dropped to 2.9 million in recent years.

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)