Why chaebol heirs opt to be officers during Korea's mandatory military service

Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s eldest son, Lee Jee-ho, entered the Republic of Korea Naval Academy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday to fulfill his mandatory military service as a naval officer. This marks the latest in a series of cases of a chaebol scion choosing to fulfill military service as an officer, unlike previous generations who were often faced public criticism after being suspected of dodging the duty required of all able-bodied Korean men. The change is seen as corporate efforts to portray young members of chaebol families as demonstrating social responsibility and proving their capabilities as future business leaders. The younger Lee entered the academy’s compound aboard a minivan at around 1 p.m. Monday. The Navy said he was accompanied by family members, but it was not confirmed whether his mother or sister were among them. Starting Monday, the 24-year-old will begin his 39 months of service, including 11 weeks of basic military training at the academy before being commissioned as an ensign. Born in New York in 2000 to the chairman aWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times