The sources, however, claimed that Android-based smartphones, mostly those from Samsung Electronics, will be exempted from the ban, while the document explicitly states that “bringing in iPhones will be completely prohibited”.
The reason is purportedly because iPhones do not fully comply with the restrictions outlined by the National Defence Mobile Security, a mobile device management application operated by the military authorities.
For instance, when activating the security app, it begins to restrict several smartphone functions, including the camera, Wi-Fi, tethering, USB functions and the microphone.
So it sounds like MDM incompatibility is the cause of this, not iPhone security or lack thereof. I would put money on Samsung having it’s hands in this ruling.
Normally I’d say it would be ridiculous for a company to push legislation for such a small demographic, but since Korea has mandatory service still as far as I know, they basically get to put a Samsung in the hands of every male citizen. And they’ll most likely keep using the same brand of phone after.