People Power Party Rep. Kang Urges Fair Selection to Address Regional, University Imbalances

The number of KATUSA (Korean Augmentation to the United States Army) recruits assigned to the US Forces Korea (USFK) was found to be highest among graduates from Korea University, followed by Yonsei University and Seoul National University. Geographically, Seoul's Gangnam District produced the most recruits.

On the 5th, Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Defense Committee, analyzed data from the Military Manpower Administration on KATUSA selections over the past five years (2020-2024) and revealed these findings. In 2024, 1,870 recruits were selected, with Yonsei University accounting for 146 (7.8%), Korea University 127 (6.8%), and Seoul National University 97 (5.2%). Sungkyunkwan University, Kyung Hee University, and Hanyang University followed.

Over the past five years, Yonsei and Korea Universities consistently ranked within the top three for producing KATUSA recruits. Seoul National University fell to fourth place in 2022, temporarily dropping out of the top three.

A clear concentration of recruits was observed in Gangnam, Bundang, and other affluent areas. From 2020 to 2024, the top four residential districts of recruits were Seoul's Gangnam, Songpa, and Seocho Districts, as well as Seongnam Bundang District in Gyeonggi Province, with these areas consistently occupying the 1st to 4th positions annually.

KATUSA eligibility requires meeting language score criteria set by the Military Manpower Administration, such as a TOEIC score of at least 780 or a TOEFL score of at least 83, among other qualifications. Recruits are selected through a computerized random lottery system that considers factors like preferred enlistment month and applicant distribution by language score. The high number of applicants from prestigious universities and the Gangnam-Bundang regions naturally results in a higher proportion of recruits from these areas, even with random selection.

Rep. Kang Dae-sik stated, "The disproportionate representation of specific regions and universities in the KATUSA program signals structural imbalances within the system." He added, "The Ministry of National Defense must address this by ensuring fair selection regardless of regional background and expanding support to reduce information gaps between regions."

KATUSA Recruits Topped by Korea, Yonsei, SNU; Gangnam, Bundang Lead