Politics · South Korea · 9 hrs ago
South Korea says it has no plans to require women to serve in the military
South Korea’s military manpower chief, Hong So-young, said the country is not considering mandatory military service for women.
The issue was raised by lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties as the number of men available for conscription is expected to fall.
Men in their 20s, the main pool for potential conscripts, are projected to number about 143,000 in 2040 and 120,000 in 2043.
Hong said the government is gradually increasing the share of women serving as officers and non-commissioned officers while building public support and preparing for the future.
She said public consensus should come before any sudden change to conscription policy.
Hong also said her agency will soon announce the results of a review of alternative service and military exemption programmes, which the Defence Ministry wants to gradually reduce and ultimately abolish.
South Korea is not considering mandatory military service for women, the country’s military manpower chief said.
Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Hong So-young said this was the position of both her agency and the Defence Ministry.
Hong said the government is increasing the share of women serving as officers and non-commissioned officers while building public consensus.
Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties raised the issue as South Korea faces a declining pool of potential male conscripts.
The number of men in their 20s is projected to fall to about 143,000 in 2040 and around 120,000 by 2043.
- Who
- Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Hong So-young said the government is not considering conscription for women.
- What
- South Korea has no plans to require women to serve in the military.
- When
- Hong made the statement on Oct 12.
- Where
- At a National Assembly National Defence Committee audit in Daejeon.
- Why
- The government says public consensus should come first. The issue was raised amid a projected decline in the number of men available for military service.
South Korean government position
Lawmakers calling for discussion of female conscription
Policy
South Korean government position
The Military Manpower Administration and Defence Ministry are not considering mandatory service for women at this point.
Lawmakers calling for discussion of female conscription
They called for formal discussion of female conscription or a gender-neutral conscription system.
Rationale
South Korean government position
Hong said public consensus should come first and said the government is gradually increasing the share of women officers and non-commissioned officers.
Lawmakers calling for discussion of female conscription
Yoo Yeong-ha cited countries with female conscription, while Chun Ha-ram urged consideration of a gender-neutral system.
Lawmakers at a Defence Ministry parliamentary audit called for changes to the military service exemption system.
Hong So-young said South Korea was not considering mandatory military service for women at an agency audit in Daejeon.
- Projected men in their 20s in 2040
- About 143,000
- Projected men in their 20s in 2043
- Around 120,000
- Commissioner
- Hong So-young
- Audit location
- Daejeon
What people are saying
The official position of both the Military Manpower Administration and the Defence Ministry is that we are not considering it at this point
Rather than suddenly introducing female conscription, the Defence Ministry and the Military Manpower Administration are gradually increasing the proportion of female officers and non-commissioned officers while building public consensus and preparing for the future
Sources
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