Park Yong-jin "Transition to Volunteer Military System... 200,000 Troops with Additional Budget of About 14 Trillion Won"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who declared his candidacy for the presidential election, urged his intra-party presidential rivals on the 2nd to "clearly state their views and thoughts on the Republic of Korea's military service system" and called for discussions on the volunteer military system.

Park held a press conference at the National Assembly that morning and stated, "Through intense debates during the presidential primary process, we must build a social consensus on the volunteer military system."

To dispel concerns that the volunteer military system might be costly, Park introduced the estimated additional budget required for the transition to a volunteer military system (according to the National Assembly Budget Office). He explained that maintaining 150,000 troops, about half of the current force, under a volunteer system would cost an additional 6.5 trillion won, and maintaining 200,000 troops, about two-thirds of the current force, would require around 14 trillion won more. Park said, "It would not be an unmanageable level to foster an elite strong military."

Park proposed institutional improvements including ▲ the introduction of a gender-equal military service system ▲ revision of the Military Pension Act ▲ strengthening medical support for military personnel.

Regarding the gender-equal military service system, which mandates all citizens to undergo about 40 to 100 days of basic military training assuming the transition to a volunteer military system, Park explained, "A social consensus and public sympathy have already been formed. It will be the starting point for improving the male-centered culture and male-dominant system caused by the male conscription system." He further stated that the pension system would be improved so that anyone, regardless of whether they are officers or active-duty soldiers, can enroll in the military pension, and that active-duty soldiers would also be enrolled in health insurance to receive treatment at external medical institutions.

Park also added that those eligible for the volunteer military system should be paid salaries comparable to the starting pay of the "top 100 conglomerates."

Park said, "If the volunteer military system is introduced, it will not only foster an elite strong military but also reduce the career interruption shock for the younger generation and end unnecessary gender discrimination controversies surrounding the military service bonus point system. Social conflicts over military service exemptions and evasion will also be minimized."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.