Today, one of the most severe challenges that the Republic of Korea military faces is the recruitment of professional soldiers caused by the change of population structure. Drawing on survey data from 1,746 conscripted soldiers in the Republic of Korea military, this paper examines the mediating effect of military life satisfaction on the impact that transformational leadership has on conscripted soldiers’ intention to become professional soldiers. The analysis result shows that transformational leadership has a statistically positive relationship with conscripted soldiers’ intention to become professional soldiers, and its relationship is partially mediated by conscripted soldiers’ military life satisfaction. Based on the analysis results, we make policy recommendations for military recruiting and retention.