Valentine's Day in South Korea is a time when the attention of the country's massive army turns to romance and a mission to spread love via military transport.

Under the Valentine's Day tradition in South Korea, women give chocolates to men. And with compulsory service of two years for young men and a military of almost 700,000 troops, that translates into a lot of sweets.

South Korea's military last week completed its annual delivery of chocolates from women to their boyfriends in uniform. The sweets are sent to regular post offices and the military sends its trucks to pick up the parcels and take them on base.

Postal officials said the military shipped about 1,000 tonnes of sweets this year and a large portion headed to bases near the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone that divides the peninsula and where many South Korean troops are stationed.

?In the old days, the chocolate was taken away from new recruits. But now, mail is delivered to each individual and they share it with their seniors,? said postal official Jeong Yang-duk.

South Korean women have discovered over the years that senior enlisted personnel and officers often expect their fill of the treats they send to their low-ranking boyfriend conscripts.

Song Min-hee, a 24-year-old office worker, said she sent two boxes of chocolates to her boyfriend ? a big box of ordinary sweets that will likely end up with his superiors and a smaller box hidden inside just for him.

?The big box is for sharing but the smaller box has much tastier treats,? Song said by telephone.