Ha Tae-kyung: "Is Exempting Pregnant and Postpartum Women from Military Service 'Misogyny'? Absurd"

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, announced a military service pledge focusing on the introduction of a one-year coed mandatory service system and a mixed conscription and recruitment system at the National Assembly Communication Office on the morning of the 15th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, proposed a coed military service system as a presidential campaign pledge and argued that women who are pregnant or have given birth should be exempt from military service. When criticized as "misogyny," he expressed regret, saying, "I deeply regret the act of labeling such a common-sense and obvious statement as 'misogyny.'"

On the 20th, Ha posted on his Facebook, saying, "This is absurd. Are we supposed to send mothers and newborn babies to the military even if it means separating them for life?"

Ha explained, "Exempting women who are pregnant or have given birth from military service is to fulfill the state's duty to protect maternity, not a policy to force childbirth by saying 'if you have a baby, you will be exempt from military service,'" adding, "Article 36, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution states that 'the state shall endeavor to protect maternity.'"

He continued, "According to Statistics Korea, as of 2019, women under 25 years old in our country account for about 6% of total births," and added, "In this situation, if women who are pregnant or have given birth are sent to the military, they inevitably have to be separated from their children. This is inhumane and the state must not allow it."

Earlier, on the 18th, regarding the military service pledge focusing on the introduction of a coed military service system and a mixed conscription-volunteer system, Ha said, "Referring to the case of Israel, we will exempt women who are pregnant or have given birth from service and reserve training." This led to criticism among some female voters, with remarks such as "Are women just baby-making machines?"