Korean Dictionary
How to say "Military enlistment" in Korean
“Military enlistment” in Korean is 입대 (pronounced "Ipdae").
입대
Ipdae
Usage & Context
The act of joining or being drafted into the military service.
Example Sentence
입대 전에 많은 준비가 필요해요.
A lot of preparation is needed before military enlistment.
How to use 입대 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Military enlistment” is 입대, romanized as Ipdae.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 입대.
Pronunciation Guide
입 (Ip) sounds like 'ip' in 'lip', with a soft, unreleased 'p' sound. 대 (dae) sounds like 'day' in English. The 'p' in '입' often slightly aspirates when followed by '대', but generally, it's a soft 'p' followed by 'dae'.
More Example Sentences
Sharing personal news about someone joining the military.
제 친구는 다음 달에 입대해요.
My friend is enlisting next month.
Discussing K-pop news related to mandatory service.
아이돌 그룹 멤버의 입대 소식에 팬들이 아쉬워했어요.
Fans were sad about the news of the idol group member's enlistment.
Describing someone's experience in military training.
그는 입대 후 훈련소에서 열심히 훈련받았습니다.
He trained hard in the training camp after enlistment.
Cultural Context
For South Korean men, '입대' (military enlistment) is a mandatory and defining life event. It's common for families and friends to have farewell gatherings before a son or friend enlists. The news of celebrities, especially K-pop idols, enlisting often makes headlines, highlighting the universal nature of this duty in Korean society.
Editorial note
We review entries like 입대 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
군대 입대
Military enlistment
입대하다
To enlist (verb form)
입대 전
Before enlistment
Related Expressions
군대
Gundae
Military, army
제대
Jede
Discharge from military service
병역
Byeongyeok
Military service (duty)
징집
Jingjip
Conscription, draft
More Military Words
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