Considering an extension of 30 days per year for reserve forces, why right before the general election?… Have men in their 20s and 30s given up on voting?

Local reserve forces members are training to suppress attackers during a counter-terrorism training held at Gajwa Station on the Gyeongui Jungang Line in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 14th. [사진=연합뉴스]

Men’s anger is growing as it is known that a recent Ministry of National Defense research report proposed a plan to postpone reserve force training to 30 days a year as a precaution against the decline in available military resources. In relation to this, criticism has also been raised that the news came out just before the general election. If this news is reported, it may affect the votes of men in their 20s and 30s who are in the ‘casting boat’ who are sensitive to the issue.

Election experts, including Eom Gyeong-young, director of the Zeitgeist Research Institute, argue that the ruling party must capture the hearts of men in their 20s and 30s in order to achieve the desired results in the general election. However, with the general election only three weeks away, there is no need for the Ministry of National Defense to try to gauge public sentiment. The point that there is a . is gaining persuasiveness.

On the 20th, Director Eom appeared on YouTube’s Pen & Mike TV’s ‘Heo Hyun-jun’s Good Morning Korea’ and argued, “The People Power Party must make an all-out effort to increase the voting rate of men in their 20s and 30s,” which means that young men will support the Conservative Party. It is an evaluation that a statement is valid at the right time. If men in their 20s and 30s lose their minds completely, these comments are useless.

In relation to this, netizens responded, “Why do you bother to bring up this issue before the general election?” and “Have you decided to ruin the general election?”

Eom Gyeong-young, head of the Zeitgeist Research Institute, appeared on YouTube’s Pen & Mike TV on the 20th and gave his outlook on the general election. [사진=유튜브]

In addition, the usual criticisms are also captured online. Netizens said, “Are you saying that after wasting two years of your life, you are wasting one more month every year?” “They are imposing more obligations without providing any treatment or compensation.” “They are calling in a civilian and saying he is a reservist, and giving them 8,000 won a day, but they are going to extend it to one month.” “, etc. are responding.

There was also analysis that it would have a negative impact on the national economy. One netizen said, “There are many students up to the fourth year (of the reserve forces), but the fifth and sixth years are all office workers.” He added, “These people are all national growth engines, so it makes no sense to skip that part by one month a year. “Aren’t you a human spy?” he criticized.

As the decline in military manpower due to the low birth rate became an established fact, the Ministry of National Defense decided to actively utilize reserve forces instead of active duty. This is interpreted to be because, according to the 2022 National Defense White Paper, the total number of reserve forces is approximately 3.1 million, which is much larger than the active-duty force of approximately 365,000, and it is expected that they will be able to demonstrate capabilities equivalent to active-duty forces with only a little training. However, the public sees a problem with the Ministry of National Defense’s policy.

According to Article 6 (Training) of the Reserve Forces Act, the current maximum training period is 20 days per year, but according to Article 15 (Training) of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act, it is within 160 hours per year, and the actual training period is 2 nights and 3 days (28 hours) per year. In this situation, it appears that some of the public is questioning whether it is right to increase the number of days to 30 days per year as per the Ministry of Defense service report.

Meanwhile, it is also steadily being pointed out that women should contribute to national defense in some way. In order to achieve equity and at the same time have minimal impact on the national economy, discussions on women’s participation in national defense must be properly underway again.

It appears that public opinion on the female conscription system is gradually turning to support. This is also confirmed through several public opinion polls. According to a public opinion poll released by KBS on February 12, 54% were in favor of the female conscription system, and 34% were opposed. What is unusual is that the majority of people in favor, regardless of whether they were progressive or conservative, achieved it. 53% of Democratic Party supporters, 69% of People Power Party supporters, 66% of Justice Party supporters, and 62% of New Reform Party supporters each answered ‘in favor of the female conscription system.’

MBN’s public opinion poll on the female conscription system clearly shows the trend of changes in public opinion. In a survey conducted in July last year, 36.3% were in favor and 54.9% were opposed, while in a survey conducted from late December of the same year to early January of this year, 54.1% were in favor and 43.3% were opposed. Ultimately, the weakening of national defense capabilities due to low birth rates is so serious that public opinion seems to be moving toward the direction that conscription of women is necessary in some way.

It was recently reported in the media that the results of a military research project suggested that “reservist training should be expanded to 30 days.” [사진=유튜브]

Reporter Park Jun-gyu pjk7000@pennmike.com