Nearly 60% of South Koreans Favor Mandatory Military Service for Women, Survey Shows
- Nearly 60% of South Koreans favor introducing mandatory military service for young women alongside their male counterparts, according to a recent survey published on August 20, marking a...
- The study found that 54.5% of female respondents across all age groups supported the idea of requiring women to undergo national service.
- At present, all able-bodied South Korean men must complete between 18 and 21 months of mandatory military service.
Nearly 60% of South Koreans favor introducing mandatory military service for young women alongside their male counterparts, according to a recent survey published on August 20, marking a significant shift in a society where female conscription has long been taboo. The poll, conducted by the Reform Institute—the policy research arm of the conservative-leaning Reform Party—shows that public opinion is evolving amid a shrinking pool of eligible recruits and shifting views on gender equality.
Shifting Public Sentiment and Survey Findings
The study found that 54.5% of female respondents across all age groups supported the idea of requiring women to undergo national service. Support was even higher among men, with nearly 65% in favor overall. That figure surged to 71.7% among men in their 20s and 30s. Overall, roughly 60% of survey respondents supported changing the law, while 34% opposed it. Hyobin Lee, a professor at Sogang University in Seoul, noted that the debate is driven in large part by young men questioning traditional civic obligations. “South Korean men generally perform their military service in their early 20s, which interrupts their education, employment or early career development,” Lee told DW. “As a result, some younger men ask a very simple question: If society expects equality in rights and opportunities, why does one of the country’s most significant civic obligations — military service — still fall only on men?”
Demographic Pressures and Military Modernization
At present, all able-bodied South Korean men must complete between 18 and 21 months of mandatory military service. They can also be called back into active duty during a national emergency, such as a war on the Korean Peninsula. Thousands of women already serve voluntarily in the armed forces, but obligating female service has historically faced strong resistance. The renewed discussion comes as South Korea faces a personnel shortage driven by a falling birth rate. According to Defense Ministry figures, about 332,000 men were eligible for mandatory service in 2019. That number dropped to 257,000 in 2022 and is projected to plummet to just 120,000 by 2043. At the same time, the nature of modern warfare is changing. Military planners are placing greater emphasis on technology, including unmanned systems, cyber capabilities, and information technology, which require less physical strength than traditional combat roles.
Broader Social Hurdles and Reform Plans
Despite growing openness to female conscription, experts caution that broader social inequalities could complicate implementation. Lee pointed out that women in South Korea continue to bear a much greater share of responsibilities related to pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare. Some critics also argue that instead of expanding conscription to women, South Korea should invest more heavily in drones and advanced defense technologies. The debate comes ahead of a scheduled national defense plan reform slated for release in the autumn.
