[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Suddenly Controversial Female Conscription System... Why?

Controversy is intensifying over the issue of female conscription. As calls for imposing military service obligations on women emerge, the Ministry of National Defense has drawn a line by stating that this is not an official government position, but the ripple effects are growing exponentially.

The controversy began at the ‘Forum on the Development of the Military Service System in the Era of Population Cliff’ held on the 11th, jointly hosted by Seongwoohoe, an association of retired generals, and the Military Manpower Administration, and organized by Shin Won-sik, a member of the People Power Party. The forum was held under the theme of improving the current military service system amid North Korea’s threats and a steep decline in birth rates.

At this event, Seongwoohoe ignited the discussion on considering a female conscription system. Lee Han-ho, president of Seongwoohoe, argued at the forum that "with the birth rate at only 0.78, a long-term, proactive review of a female conscription system is necessary." Following him, Choi Byung-wook, a professor at Sangmyung University and a presenter, also advocated for the need to expand conscription, which currently targets mainly men, to include women.

Yang Wook, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, also stated in his presentation on ‘Future Directions for the Military Service System’ that "if troop reductions accelerate due to the sharp population decline, there will inevitably be limitations in responding to North Korea’s nuclear threats and anticipated threats from neighboring countries." He added, "Various institutional studies are needed, such as a technology-intensive combat non-commissioned officer system capable of operating advanced weapons, a specialty-based professional soldier system, and a female volunteer enlistment system."

In response, the Ministry of National Defense stated that it is not considering proposals such as female conscription or extending military service periods, which have been raised as solutions to the shortage of military personnel. The Military Manpower Administration also issued a statement that day, saying, "Although various opinions were raised at the forum regarding extending military service periods, the necessity of female conscription, and the abolition of alternative service, these were personal opinions of the presenters and discussants, not official government positions, and have not been reviewed."