Differences in Cultural Dimensions Between South Korean Officers and Conscripts: A Topic Modeling Approach

Excessive restrictions on individual rights, such as a ban on smartphone use and strict hair regulations, are a major concern among conscripts in South Korea. However, officers often adopt a lukewarm attitude toward their grievances. This study examines whether officers and conscripts have different standards of what is acceptable in the military. Theoretically and empirically, there are systemic differences in how officers and conscripts perform daily tasks; however, we do not have a detailed and systematic account of these differences. Therefore, we collected 23,987 responses to an open question regarding the disappointing aspects of military life and conducted a deductive descriptive study. A topic modeling analysis was used to identify 40 topics and categorize them into three clusters: respect for people, innovation, and sense of duty. The data analysis revealed that officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and conscripts had different priorities regarding what the military must do. Officers and NCOs prioritized innovation over respect for people, but the opposite was true for conscripts. These findings have theoretical and methodological implications for exploring military subcultures.