By Lee Jin-woo
Staff Reporter


Acrimonious debate over military service for women swirls around two bills prepared for the National Assembly.

Rep. Song Young-sun of the largest opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has revealed her plan to submit a revision bill to allow women to join the military to do the same duties as men, if they volunteer. Military service is mandatory for men.

South Korean women have so far been accepted by the military as commissioned or non-commissioned officers, who choose military service as a job.

The bill also aims to offer alternative non-combat duties for women to fulfill their military service such as working at public facilities or certain companies for a specified period.

``Women’s military service will significantly contribute to the nation’s development and improve gender equality in society,’’ said Rep. Song. ``The number of commissioned and non-commissioned female officers should be increased to 10,000 by 2010 from the current 3,700.’’

However, considering the extremely low wages and the poor living conditions in military barracks offered to those serving mandatory military service, Song’s bill may be a symbolic rather than a practical attempt to bring significant changes to the current male-dominated military system. A solider on average is paid around 47,000 won ($45) per month, far lower than their monthly spending of over 60,000 won.

Another GNP legislator Park Sei-hwan also plans to submit a bill for introducing mandatory military duties for women this month. It is expected to stir more controversy.

The Defense Ministry, however, has denied any plan to adopt mandatory military duties for women.

``Considering the many difficulties including the limited defense budget, it is too hasty to consider such plans,’’ Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung told reporters Friday.

In a survey of 1,000 adults conducted nationwide by the weekly magazine Hankyoreh 21, 22.2 percent replied ``Women must fulfill the same military duties as men,’’ and 27.2 percent said ``Women’s mandatory military service should be considered positively.’’ About 27.6 percent opposed the proposal while 21.7 percent answered negatively ``It’s impossible as it’s not realistic.’’

A female high school student has filed a petition at the Constitutional Court, claiming ``Current mandatory military duty only for men violates the principle of gender equality.’’

things@koreatimes.co.kr