How to Apply for a Change of Military Service Disposition — Re-examination for a Worsened Illness and Requesting Enlistment Postponement 5 Days Ahead

Procedure

1. 1. Identify the correct procedure

   A change of disposition applies where an illness newly arises or worsens after the decision; it is a different procedure from an objection that disputes the physical grade given at the time of the decision. A person given physical grade 7 (re-examination) is re-examined by the regional Military Manpower Office within 1 month after the designated recovery period ends. If a treatment period is needed and immediate enlistment is difficult, consider an enlistment postponement separately from the change of disposition.

2. 2. Prepare the military medical certificate and the statement of onset

   Obtain a military medical certificate (Form No. 106) from a medical institution and describe the time of onset and course of treatment in the statement of the circumstances of the illness or disability (Form No. 109). Arrange medical records, test results, imaging reports and hospitalization certificates in chronological order so that the change in condition after the decision is clear.

3. 3. Submit the application for change or exemption of military service

   On the application for change or exemption of military service (Form No. 108), mark the applicable item among supplementary service, wartime labor service or exemption on grounds of illness or disability, and submit it to the head of the regional Military Manpower Office. A person who has received an enlistment or call-up notice must submit it by the day before the enlistment or call-up date, and a person serving as social service personnel submits it through the head of the agency of service or, if they wish, directly to the regional office. To take the physical examination under the office with jurisdiction over the actual place of residence, also submit proof of enrollment, employment or the like.

4. 4. Physical examination and result

   The head of the regional Military Manpower Office conducts a physical examination at the central physical examination institution, a military service examination center or a military hospital; grade 5 leads to wartime labor service and grade 6 to exemption, and for a person subject to active-duty enlistment, grades 2 to 4 lead to a disposition under that year's disposition standards. Grade 7 follows the re-examination procedure, and the Commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration may set separate standards for a person who previously underwent a physical examination through a change application or who has used up the full 2-year postponement period.

5. 5. Request an enlistment postponement if treatment time is needed

   Submit the application for postponement of the date of military service (Form No. 103-2) with supporting documents such as a military medical certificate to the head of the regional Military Manpower Office at least 5 days before the enlistment date. If the grounds arise suddenly and there is no time to submit the application, first report by telephone or similar means and then submit the application within 3 days. If a person whose enlistment was postponed due to illness is recognized as unable to perform military service, the disposition may be changed after a physical examination.

Required documents

• Application for change or exemption of military service (Enforcement Rule of the Military Service Act, Form No. 108; for a change of disposition)
• Application for postponement of the date of military service (Enforcement Rule of the Military Service Act, Form No. 103-2; for postponing an enlistment or call-up date)
• Military medical certificate (Enforcement Rule of the Military Service Act, Form No. 106; issued by a medical institution)
• Statement of the circumstances of the illness or mental or physical disability (Enforcement Rule of the Military Service Act, Form No. 109)
• Records of the course of treatment such as medical records, test results, imaging reports and hospitalization certificates
• Full-body or upper-body photographs taken within 3 months, if there is an obvious visible disability such as a whole-body deformity
• Proof of enrollment, private institute attendance or employment, if you wish to be examined by the regional office with jurisdiction over your actual place of residence
• For postponement on grounds other than illness, documents proving the fact, such as a family member's critical condition or death, a disaster, or sitting an entrance examination

Fees

Typically several hundred thousand won in the industry · We advise after a consultation based on the type of application (change of disposition, enlistment postponement) and the volume of medical records. There is no application fee at the Military Manpower Administration; the cost of issuing a military medical certificate is separate.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Military Service Act, Article 12
• Military Service Act, Article 14
• Military Service Act, Article 61
• Military Service Act, Article 65
• Military Service Act, Article 86
• Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, Article 17
• Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, Article 129
• Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, Article 129-2
• Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, Article 135
• Enforcement Rule of the Military Service Act, Article 87
• Enforcement Rule of the Military Service Act, Article 95
• Enforcement Rule of the Military Service Act, Form No. 103-2
• Enforcement Rule of the Military Service Act, Form No. 108
• Enforcement Rule of the Military Service Act, Form No. 109
• Certified Administrative Agents Act, Article 2

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-16

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• Under Article 86 of the Military Service Act, damaging one's body or using deception to obtain a reduction or exemption of military service is punishable by imprisonment of 1 to 5 years, so write only content consistent with actual medical records in the application and statement.
• The deadline for a change of disposition is the day before the enlistment date and the deadline for an enlistment postponement is 5 days before the enlistment date, so check both deadlines as soon as you receive an enlistment notice and obtain a medical certificate promptly.

Frequently asked questions