Military duty alternative revives for large conglomerates after 14 years amid AI drive

Military duty alternative for research personnel at large conglomerates is set to resume in the AI field after 14 years, with LG Electronics, HD Hyundai Robotics, Samsung Medison and Samsung Electronics recommended for designation. The program lets science and engineering graduates with master’s or doctoral degrees work at research sites for three years instead of serving 18 to 21 months in the military. The AI allocation for large conglomerates is scheduled to run from 2027 to 2029. The final selection and allocation procedures are still pending.

The Ministry of Science and ICT recommended four large conglomerates for hosting expert research personnel: LG Electronics, HD Hyundai Robotics, Samsung Medison and Samsung Electronics.

The ministry said the four companies have nine research institutes that need 81 personnel.

The Military Manpower Administration said 120 of the 240 master’s-level AI slots next year will be reserved for research institutes at large conglomerates.

Selection criteria for AI-related large conglomerates include an R&D investment ratio of at least 5 percent of sales, no direct competition with small and medium-sized enterprises, and objective proof of R&D performance.

Published Sep 20, 2026 2:06 pm KST

Soldiers wait their turn at a booth during an employment and startup fair for discharged veterans in Seocho District, Seoul, Sept. 2. Yonhap

The assignment of expert research personnel to large conglomerates is expected to resume for the first time in 14 years, this time in the artificial intelligence (AI) field, helping prevent research career interruptions and the outflow of workers abroad.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Science and ICT to Rep. Hwang Jung-a of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Sunday, the ministry recommended LG Electronics, HD Hyundai Robotics, Samsung Medison and Samsung Electronics to be designated for hosting expert research personnel, with their nine research institutes needing 81 personnel.

The expert research personnel program lets science and engineering graduates with master's or doctoral degrees work at research sites for three years instead of serving 18 to 21 months in the regular military, depending on the branch.

However, new assignments to large conglomerates were suspended in 2013 to secure research and development personnel for small and medium-sized enterprises, closing off the path to military service at large conglomerate research institutes and drawing criticism for narrowing the career pipeline in science and engineering.

In response, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) announced in June that 120 of the 240 master's-level slots allocated for the AI field next year would be set aside for research institutes at large conglomerates.

Although the revival comes after 14 years, its limited operating period and strict selection requirements remain key limitations.

According to data from the MMA, the selection criteria for AI-related large conglomerates require an R&D investment ratio of at least 5 percent of sales, operation in a field that does not compete directly with small and medium-sized enterprises, and objective proof of R&D performance.

Few domestic large conglomerates can clear that bar, with the ministry's recommendation list totaling 81 researchers, or 67.5 percent of the 120 annual slots for large conglomerates. Some large conglomerates that applied were reportedly dropped at the recommendation stage for failing to meet the requirements.

The AI-related allocation for large conglomerates is set to run from 2027 to 2029. It remains uncertain whether all the ministry's personnel recommendations will be reflected, as the MMA's final selection and allocation procedures are still pending.

"With the expert research personnel program for large conglomerates restored after 14 years, young researchers again have a path to serve their military duty at institutions with some of the country's best research infrastructure," Hwang said. "But to secure talent and strategic technology, the government should open up military service exemptions more boldly so rigid requirements don't limit the program's effectiveness."

大型企业集团研究人员的兵役替代计划将在中断14年后于人工智能领域重新启动，LG电子、HD现代机器人、三星麦迪逊和三星电子已被推荐参与该计划。该计划允许拥有硕士或博士学位的科学和工程专业毕业生在研究机构工作三年，以代替18至21个月的兵役。大型企业集团的人工智能领域人员替代计划预计将于2027年至2029年实施。最终的遴选和分配程序仍在进行中。

科学技术信息通信部推荐了四家大型企业集团作为专家研究人员的驻地：LG电子、HD现代机器人、三星麦迪逊和三星电子。

该部表示，这四家公司拥有九个研究所，需要81名工作人员。

兵务厅表示，明年240个人工智能硕士名额中，将有120个预留给大型企业集团的研究机构。

人工智能相关大型企业集团的选择标准包括研发投入占销售额的至少 5%，不与中小企业直接竞争，以及研发绩效的客观证明。

发布于2026年9月20日下午2:06（韩国标准时间）

9月2日，在首尔瑞草区举行的退伍军人就业创业博览会上，士兵们在展位前排队等候。（韩联社）

预计时隔 14 年，大型企业集团将首次恢复向其派遣专业研究人员，这次是在人工智能 (AI) 领域，这将有助于防止研究人员职业生涯中断和人才外流。

根据韩国科学技术信息通信部周日提交给执政党共同民主党议员黄正娥的数据，该部建议将LG电子、HD现代机器人、三星麦迪逊和三星电子指定为专家研究人员的驻地，这四家公司的九个研究所需要81名人员。

专家研究人员计划允许拥有硕士或博士学位的科学和工程专业毕业生在研究机构工作三年，而不是在正规军队服役 18 至 21 个月，具体时间取决于所属军种。

然而，为了确保中小企业拥有研发人员，2013 年暂停了向大型企业集团派遣新人员，这切断了在大型企业集团研究机构服役的途径，并因缩小科学和工程领域的职业发展路径而受到批评。

对此，兵务厅于6月宣布，明年分配给人工智能领域的240个硕士研究生名额中，将预留120个给大型企业集团的研究机构。

尽管时隔 14 年终于复兴，但其有限的运营时间和严格的筛选要求仍然是主要的限制因素。

根据MMA的数据，人工智能相关大型企业集团的选择标准要求研发投入占销售额的比例至少为5%，经营领域不与中小企业直接竞争，以及研发绩效的客观证明。

国内大型企业集团鲜少能达到这一标准，该部推荐的科研人员名单共有81人，仅占每年120个大型企业集团名额的67.5%。据报道，一些申请的大型企业集团因未能满足要求，在推荐阶段就被淘汰。

针对大型企业集团的人工智能相关拨款计划将于 2027 年至 2029 年实施。由于马来西亚媒体管理局 (MMA) 的最终遴选和分配程序尚未完成，目前尚不确定该部委的所有人员推荐是否都能得到落实。

黄说：“大型企业集团专家研究人员计划在中断14年后恢复，年轻的研究人员又有了在拥有全国一流科研设施的机构服兵役的途径。但为了确保人才和战略技术的储备，政府应该更大胆地放宽兵役豁免条件，以免僵化的要求限制了该计划的有效性。”