"Claim to Reenlist Elderly Instead of Female Military Service Sparks Online Debate"

Professor Choi Young-jin of Chung-Ang University Department of Political Science and International Studies Claims
"Unreasonable Argument for Female Military Enlistment, Older Generation Should Re-enlist"

"There is an easier and more efficient alternative to solving the manpower shortage problem," he said, "which is to utilize healthy seniors who wish to volunteer for enlistment."

To address the shortage of military manpower caused by low birth rates, a proposal has emerged to mobilize men aged 55 to 75 to create a "Senior Army." Netizens are debating this article published in Hankyoreh online.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party (right), announced the party's policy on "Mandatory Military Service for New Female Public Officials" with Representative Yang Hyang-ja, who is set to serve as the floor leader of the Reform New Party, at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 29th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Choi Young-jin, a professor in the Department of Political Science and International Studies at Chung-Ang University, criticized in an article contributed to Hankyoreh on the 31st of last month, saying, "(The policy of mandatory military service for women) is a policy that lacks consideration of the reality of low birth rates."

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, Lee Jun-seok's Reform New Party pledged to implement a policy that would require women to serve in the military starting as early as 2030 in order to become police officers or firefighters. However, exceptions would be made for some cases where fulfilling military service is difficult according to the results of the military service examination and other legal provisions.

Regarding this, Professor Choi said, "At first glance, it seems plausible, but it is a policy that knows only one side and not the other," and argued, "Securing 10,000 to 20,000 military personnel resources will require pouring in tens of times the budget. Claiming that women should also serve in the military under the pretext of gender equality is too narrow-minded."

[Photo by Senior Army Corporation website capture]

He continued, "To solve the low birth rate problem, above all, the burden of childbirth and childcare must be minimized," and pointed out, "Telling women who wish to become public officials to also serve in the military only increases the burden of childbirth."

He then mentioned the Senior Army. He said, "It is about utilizing healthy seniors who wish to volunteer for enlistment. Currently, there are about 6.91 million men aged 55 to 75, and a considerable number of them are ready to take up arms once again for the country," adding, "If only 1% of the 6.91 million volunteer, about 70,000 reserve forces can be secured," and "If they are paid the same monthly salary as current soldiers, 200,000 to 300,000 people can be sufficiently mobilized."

In relation to this, posts about the Senior Army have been appearing on various online communities and social media. Those opposing the Senior Army expressed opinions such as, "Are you trying to exploit men who served in their 20s even when they are in their 50s to 70s?" and "Do you believe that officers can control elderly soldiers in their 60s and 70s?"

On the other hand, supporters argued that there are realistically no other alternatives. Claims such as "Our country's elderly poverty rate is high; isn't this a policy that can solve elderly poverty?" and "It would be good to enlist elderly people who pick up trash and provide them with food and lodging" were made.

Meanwhile, Professor Choi is the co-representative of the incorporated association Senior Army, which was launched through its inaugural general meeting in June last year with an average age of 63. Members also received enlistment training at the Seoul Seocho Reserve Forces Training Center in November last year. Last year, they also participated in combat training with the cooperation of the Ministry of National Defense.