Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
South Korea says it is not currently considering conscripting women
South Korea’s military manpower chief, Hong So-young, told lawmakers that the government is not currently considering conscripting women.
The issue came up at a National Assembly defense committee hearing in Daejeon.
Lawmaker Chun Ha-ram argued that discussion should begin because the number of young men eligible for military service is expected to fall sharply.
He cited a drop from 224,000 last year to about 140,000 in 2040 and 120,000 around 2043.
Hong said the manpower agency and the defense ministry are gradually increasing the share of women officers and working to build public support.
She said social discussion and public agreement are important before any move to conscript women.
After Chun asked for serious consideration, Hong said she would do so.
South Korea’s Military Manpower Administration said it is not currently considering conscripting women, describing this as the official position of the administration and the Ministry of National Defense.
Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Hong So-young said the agencies are gradually increasing the share of women officers and working to build public support.
The comments came during a parliamentary audit on October 12, after lawmakers raised whether women should be included in conscription.
Hong said the issue was socially contentious and that public discussion and consensus were important.
A lawmaker cited projections that the number of 20-year-old men eligible for active-duty service would fall to about 140,000 in 2040.
- Who
- Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Hong So-young and lawmakers on the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee.
- What
- The administration said South Korea is not currently considering conscripting women.
- When
- October 12, 2026.
- Where
- At the Military Manpower Administration in Daejeon, during a parliamentary audit.
- Why
- The discussion was raised in response to declining military manpower and projections of fewer men eligible for service.
Supporters of considering conscription for women
Military Manpower Administration and Ministry of National Defense
Whether to consider conscription
Supporters of considering conscription for women
Chun Ha-ram said discussion could begin now and urged serious consideration.
Military Manpower Administration and Ministry of National Defense
The agencies’ official position is that they are not currently considering women’s conscription.
Response to declining manpower
Supporters of considering conscription for women
Chun argued that the discussion was not premature.
Military Manpower Administration and Ministry of National Defense
Hong said the agencies are gradually increasing the share of women officers and working to build public support.
The official position of the Military Manpower Administration and the Ministry of National Defense is that we are not currently considering conscription for women.
I think it is not too early to start discussing conscription for both men and women now.
Rather than suddenly introducing conscription for women, the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration are gradually increasing the share of women officers while building public support and preparing for that.
I think social discussion and public consensus are most important above all when considering the introduction of conscription for women.
At a parliamentary audit, lawmaker Yoo Young-ha said it was time to consider introducing conscription for women, and Hong said public discussion and consensus were important.
Chun Ha-ram urged serious consideration of conscription for both men and women; Hong reiterated that the agencies were not currently considering it and said he would do so.
- Official position
- The Military Manpower Administration and Ministry of National Defense are not currently considering conscripting women.
- Commissioner
- Hong So-young
- Hearing date
- October 12, 2026
- Projected eligible men in 2040
- About 140,000 20-year-old men
- Eligible men last year
- 224,000
- Alternative preparation cited
- Gradually increasing the share of women officers and building public support
Sources
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