By Kang Seung-woo
A record number of college students applied for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, the Korean Army said Tuesday.
The Army Cadet Military School recruited applicants for the college-based officer training program until last month and more than 20,000 students applied for about 3,250 ROTC cadet places, including 250 slots for females.
This was an oversubscription rate of 6.1 to 1, a record since 1992 when the army began to compile data.
Under the program, cadets undergo physical and military education throughout four semesters, or two years, and serve for two years and six months after being commissioned.
According to the Army, more than 10,000 male freshmen applied for about 1,600 ROTC slots, while some 7,700 male sophomores are vying for 1,400 places.
On the women's side that only recruits current second-year students, some 1,500 students applied for the 250 openings.
Compared with last year, male applicants increased by 74 percent, while females grew 17 percent.
The women's program, established in 2010 at seven universities, has rapidly gained popularity as a total of 70 schools are now running the ROTC program for female students. The slots have also increased from 60 to 250 during the period.
The Army said that the increasing number of applicants reflects the tight job market.
"The ROTC program seems to be increasingly appealing to collegians as they can clinch a job right after graduation. In addition, a huge personnel network of 180,000 ROTC alumni positively played a role in their decision," an Army officer said.
A record number of college students applied for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, the Korean Army said Tuesday.
The Army Cadet Military School recruited applicants for the college-based officer training program until last month and more than 20,000 students applied for about 3,250 ROTC cadet places, including 250 slots for females.
This was an oversubscription rate of 6.1 to 1, a record since 1992 when the army began to compile data.
Under the program, cadets undergo physical and military education throughout four semesters, or two years, and serve for two years and six months after being commissioned.
According to the Army, more than 10,000 male freshmen applied for about 1,600 ROTC slots, while some 7,700 male sophomores are vying for 1,400 places.
On the women's side that only recruits current second-year students, some 1,500 students applied for the 250 openings.
Compared with last year, male applicants increased by 74 percent, while females grew 17 percent.
The women's program, established in 2010 at seven universities, has rapidly gained popularity as a total of 70 schools are now running the ROTC program for female students. The slots have also increased from 60 to 250 during the period.
The Army said that the increasing number of applicants reflects the tight job market.
"The ROTC program seems to be increasingly appealing to collegians as they can clinch a job right after graduation. In addition, a huge personnel network of 180,000 ROTC alumni positively played a role in their decision," an Army officer said.
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