In South Korea, all healthy males between the ages of 18 and 35 are required to serve in the military. World Cup team players and Olympic medal winners are exempted from this. Military service is one of the five primary duties of citizens enshrined in the Constitution. The other four are paying taxes, working, educating children and protecting the environment. The government is considering increasing the scope of exemption. A proposal to bar fathers of three or more children from military service till the age of 30 is likely to be implemented soon. South Korea, with a population of 50 million, has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. There has been a steady decline in the birth rate since the 1970s. President Yoo Suk Yeol has insisted on taking bold steps to increase the birth rate. Sources in the ruling People’s Power Party say the decision is being taken to exempt the father of three children from military service.