Up to 8 counseling sessions via voucher for young people flagged as mental-health at-risk in conscription physicals — depression and early-psychosis screening planned from next year
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
Young people identified as mental-health at-risk in the conscription physical are linked to a counseling voucher of up to 8 sessions (out-of-pocket cost from exempt to up to 50%), and depression and early-psychosis tests are planned to be added for all examinees from next year.
Key facts
| Counseling voucher | Up to 8 professional counseling sessions linked for at-risk young people (since this year) |
|---|---|
| Out-of-pocket rate | From exempt to up to 50%, depending on income level and other factors |
| Added tests (planned) | From next year, depression test (PHQ-9) and early-psychosis test (CAPE-15) for all examinees |
| Treatment cost support | 'Maeum-itda' (마음잇다) project — the Korea National Council on Social Welfare connects corporate social-contribution resources |
| Contact | Military Manpower Administration, Conscription Examination Division (042-481-2916) |
Last checked:
Korea's Military Manpower Administration (병무청) is strengthening support so that mental-health risk signs identified in the conscription physical examination lead to counseling and treatment. Since this year, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, it has linked young people identified as at risk to a psychological counseling voucher covering up to 8 professional counseling sessions, with the out-of-pocket rate ranging from fully exempt to up to 50% depending on income level and other factors. From next year, it plans to add a depression test (PHQ-9) and an early-psychosis test (CAPE-15) to the psychological tests given to everyone taking the conscription physical. It is also running the 'Maeum-itda' (마음잇다) project, in which young people needing treatment are identified and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare connects corporate social-contribution resources to fund treatment costs.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
Who can receive the counseling voucher?
Young people identified as mental-health at-risk in the conscription physical are linked, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, to a voucher for up to 8 professional counseling sessions, with the out-of-pocket rate ranging from exempt to up to 50% depending on income level and other factors.
Does the state pay for treatment?
A bill amending the Military Service Act to let the state fund treatment costs for those subject to a Grade 7 re-examination who need treatment has been submitted to the National Assembly; until such a system is in place, the 'Maeum-itda' project has the Korea National Council on Social Welfare connect corporate social-contribution resources to fund treatment costs.