South Korea Considers Conscription for Women

Nearly 60 per cent of South Koreans now support women undergoing mandatory military service alongside men, according to a recent survey. This figure indicates a significant shift in views that have traditionally regarded female soldiers as a taboo subject.

Currently, thousands of women serve in the South Korean armed forces on a voluntary basis. However, the debate regarding conscription for women has always been a sensitive issue.

Nevertheless, the continuous decline in birth rates, the shrinking number of potential soldiers, and the view that social equality implies women should also undergo military service have resurfaced the issue. The debate has intensified ahead of the national defence reforms scheduled for release this autumn.

However, some parties still insist that women should be kept away from the front lines. They argue that South Korea should instead invest more heavily in drones and other advanced technologies.

“Male-centric conscription in South Korea has long been closely linked to traditional gender roles,” said Hyobin Lee, a professor at Sogang University, Seoul. “Men are generally expected to protect the nation and the family and to fight during wartime, whereas women are expected to bear the primary responsibility for pregnancy, childcare, and the household,” she told DW.

The second factor is the strengthening debate on gender equality, which is largely driven by young men, she added.

War is more than just physical

“South Korean men generally undergo military service in their early 20s. This disrupts their education, employment, or career development at an early stage,” said Lee. “At the same time, gender equality is becoming an increasingly important social value, while opportunities for women in education and employment are expanding.”

“As a result, some young men are asking a very simple question: if society demands equality in rights and opportunities, why is one of the most important civic duties in this country—military service—still imposed only on men?”

Another factor driving this change is the evolving nature of warfare itself. Combat roles requiring physical strength—which have traditionally been seen as more suitable for men—are decreasing, while national defence is becoming increasingly dependent on technology. This includes unmanned systems, cyber capabilities, information and communication technology, and various other technologies that do not demand physical strength.

What does the survey say?

According to a survey conducted by the Reform Institute, a policy research body and the research wing of the conservative Reform Party, and published on 20 August, almost 60 per cent of respondents support changing the law to mandate military service for women. Only 34 per cent opposed the idea.

Almost 65 per cent of men support it. This figure rises to 71.7 per cent among men in their 20s and 30s. Meanwhile, 54.5 per cent of women across all age groups also expressed support.

Currently, all physically fit men are required to serve in the military for at least 18 to 21 months. They can also be recalled in the event of a national emergency, such as an outbreak of war on the tense Korean Peninsula.

However, recent figures show a shortage of personnel that has affected the South Korean armed forces. According to the Ministry of Defence, approximately 332,000 men were eligible for military service in 2019. That number fell to 257,000 in 2022 and is projected to shrink to just 120,000 by 2043.

While Hyobin Lee strongly supports equality throughout South Korean society, she worries that mandating women to undergo the same period of service as men could actually have a negative impact because many other aspects of society are still lagging behind.

Traditional responsibilities of women remain unchanged

“Women in South Korea still bear a far greater share of responsibilities related to pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare,” she asserted. “Having a child can still lead to career interruptions or exiting the labour market. Women’s responsibilities in terms of childcare have not decreased in proportion to their increasing participation in education and employment,” said Lee.

“If women are also required to undergo military service, the accumulation of burdens throughout their lives could become even heavier. In a country already facing extremely low birth rates, this additional obligation might further delay or discourage marriage and childbirth.”

Lee comes from a family with a strong military background. Her grandfather was a naval admiral, and her father served in the same branch. However, she herself would consider the prospect of mandatory military service very heavily.

“If someone chooses a military career, that is entirely different from compulsory service,” she said. “Eighteen months in one’s 20s is a very significant period in a person’s life. It is a time when people are pursuing education, starting careers, and making various important life choices. Having to halt all that because the state mandates it is a heavy burden. Personally, I would find it very difficult to lose 18 months of my youth in such a manner.”

Song Young-Chae, an academic and human rights activist based in Seoul, served two years in the infantry when she was young, during a period when mandatory service was longer. She opposes military service for women.

“National defence has traditionally been a male responsibility, and I do not see any urgent need to mandate it for women.”