Mandatory conscription is often defended as a way to build character, but I wonder if it actually does more harm than good for young people's career prospects and mental health. In South Korea, where I served for 18 months, the disruption to education and early work experience is significant, and I've seen friends struggle to catch up afterward. The discipline argument is real, but so many jobs now value flexibility and creativity over obedience—qualities that military training can sometimes suppress rather than nurture. Does the civic benefit really outweigh the personal cost for most conscripts?