Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly: "Military Bonus Points and Female Conscription Should Not Be Rushed as They Are Gender Issues"

Chairman Min Hong-chul of the National Defense Committee and committee members inspected the site of the Yeonpyeong shelling at Fort 7 Company, Yeonpyeong Island, Ongjin County, Incheon on the 19th. / Yeonpyeong Island - Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Min Hong-cheol, a member of the National Assembly and chairman of the National Defense Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, referred to the controversy over military service bonus points and the introduction of female conscription as "an issue that should not be viewed solely as a gender problem but as a task requiring social consensus."

On the 21st, at the Democratic Party Emergency Committee meeting, Min said, "The Ministry of Strategy and Finance's official letter to public institutions under its jurisdiction to revise regulations on gender discrimination in promotions has triggered discussions on issues such as seniority-based pay raises and promotions in the workplace, additional service period credits, the introduction of a volunteer military system, the implementation of gender-equal military service, and the revival of military service bonus points." He added, "The issue of additional service period credits, the reform of the military service system including female conscription, and preferential treatment for those who fulfill military service should not be hastily resolved by viewing them simply as intergenerational or gender discrimination or conflict issues, or as gender problems, but should be comprehensively addressed through social consensus."

He continued, "Considering our country's security situation, military effectiveness and the formation of public consensus, followed by the derivation of social consensus, must precede. The Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration are promoting Defense Reform 2.0, including military structure reorganization in response to population decline, and are preparing the Defense Vision 2050. The current issues related to the military service system need to be examined more deeply."

Recently, Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed transitioning to a volunteer military system and implementing gender-equal military service in a book outlining his presidential election intentions and plans. His idea is to abolish conscription but have both men and women undergo 40 to 100 days of basic military training to be trained as reservists.

Min stated, "Article 39, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution stipulates that all citizens have the duty of national defense as prescribed by law, and Paragraph 2 states that no one shall be subjected to disadvantageous treatment due to the fulfillment of military service obligations." He added, "The Act on Support for Veterans stipulates that comprehensive measures should be prepared and supported for veterans' social reintegration and independence."

He concluded, "Providing reasonable compensation and support at an appropriate level for those who fulfill military service obligations is a national responsibility that naturally follows from their public contribution through dedication and service for national security, as well as losses such as interruption of studies and career breaks."