Army's Nonsan training camp welcomes first recruits of 2026

New recruits at the Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, Jan. 5, 2026/ Yonhap
SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Korea's biggest Army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, officially commenced its 2026 operations on Monday with the year’s first enlistment ceremony.

Approximately 1,760 new recruits took part in the proceedings, joined by thousands of family members and friends.

As the primary gateway for military service, the Nonsan facility handles approximately 60 percent of all Army enlistees. Following this inaugural intake, the center expects to process and train an estimated 120,000 troops throughout this year.

The recruits are scheduled to undergo six weeks of intensive basic combat training. Upon completion of the program, they will be assigned to their permanent units starting next month to fulfill their mandatory military service.
 New recruits at the Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, Jan. 5, 2026/ Yonhap A mother embraces her son before the enlistment ceremony at the Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, Jan. 5, 2026. Yonhap The enlistment ceremony at the Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, Jan. 5, 2026/ Yonhap
Han Jun-gu 사진기자 jungu141298@ajupress.com