A report claims that the ban applies to all devices capable of voice recording and does not allow third-party apps to lock this down—with the iPhone specifically named. According to sources familiar with the matter cited by Tuesday's report, the iPhone is explicitly banned. Android-based devices, like Samsung's, are exempt from the ban.

Apparently the South Koreans do not feel that the tech is safe in a military compound. Still, the Tame Apple Press claims the move has “less to do with security and more to do with a poorly crafted mobile device management suite coupled with nationalism..."

The South Korean National Defense Mobile Security mobile device management app doesn't seem to be able to block the use of the microphone. This MDM was rolled out in 2013, and its use will be enforced across all military members in 2021.

Rather than questioning why the MDM is prevented from switching off the microphone when it can do it with Android phones, the Tame Apple Press insists that it must have to do with the software and inconsistent limitations depending on make, model, and operating system.

However, discussions are apparently underway to extend the total ban to the entire military. The Army is said to have tried the ban as well.

Seven out of 10 South Korean military members are Samsung users, so the ban appears to be mostly symbolic.