[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Yong Hyein, a member of the Basic Income Party, criticized on the 26th the ruling party's discussion of granting benefits such as recognizing military service members as 'National Defense Meritorious Persons,' saying, "Improving the treatment of soldiers by reducing the share for young women is neither practical nor clearly discriminatory based on gender."
Earlier, Kim Byung-gi of the Democratic Party of Korea announced that he plans to propose a legislative bill to recognize military service members as national merit recipients. The bill reportedly includes provisions to grant additional points (less than 3%) for employment and promotion, as well as preferential points for housing subscription.
Explaining the background of the bill, Representative Kim stated, "Serving in the military is an honor. It is a more precious and valuable honor than any other," and argued, "If those who risked their lives to protect the country are not considered meritorious, then who else could be?"
Regarding the Ministry of Economy and Finance's directive to all public institutions not to include military service periods in promotion calculations, he said, "What does including military service periods in promotion calculations have to do with gender discrimination? Are female soldiers not eligible for additional points? Recognizing military service periods is not a gender discrimination issue but a distinction between those who have served and those who have not."
In response, Representative Yong wrote on her Facebook, "It is difficult to understand the call for the revival of the military service additional points system, which was ruled unconstitutional 22 years ago due to its discriminatory provisions against gender and the disabled, without diagnosing the fundamental problem," adding, "Especially if it strengthens the military service additional points system and extends it to other areas such as housing."
Yong acknowledged, "I am not unaware of the difficulties faced by young men who must serve in the military," but pointed out, "Women cannot even enlist as enlisted soldiers. In South Korea, where conscription is the basis, most who serve are men. The idea of taking away the share from women and the disabled, who cannot or do not serve, to give it to men is not equality but merely 'passing the pain around.'"
Yong further questioned Representative Kim, saying, "'Are female soldiers not eligible for additional points?' as an explanation that the military service additional points system is not a gender discrimination issue but merely a distinction between those who have served and those who have not is even pitiful," and asked, "Who do you think is the political force that most wants to divide young people in their 20s and 30s into a battle over shares between men and women?"
She also emphasized, "If we incite a battle over shares by dividing sides such as women and men, regular and irregular workers, instead of reforms that increase the overall share, nothing will be solved," and stressed, "The only way to resolve the current 'gender conflict' is to boldly address the core issues and squeeze out the long-standing pus in Korean society."
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