Ha Tae-kyung: "One-Year Joint Military Service for Men and Women, Presidential Pledge... The Rest by Volunteer Recruitment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ha Tae-kyung, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, proposed the introduction of a coed military service system and a mixed conscription-volunteer system as part of his presidential campaign promises on the 15th. To address the shortage of military personnel due to low birth rates, men and women would serve together, and in addition to conscription, a volunteer system offering an initial salary of approximately 2.5 million won would be implemented concurrently.

On the same day, Ha held a press conference at the National Assembly to announce his military service-related presidential campaign pledges. He stated, "Conscription itself is harsh on young people," and pledged to "shorten the mandatory service period under conscription to within one year." Ha also said, "We will reorganize the 300,000-strong soldier structure into 100,000 conscripts serving one year focusing on support tasks, and 200,000 volunteers serving three years in highly skilled fields."

Regarding the coed military service system, he said, "Unlike the past when roles were divided by gender, we now live in an era of gender equality," adding, "Advanced countries such as Israel, Sweden, and Norway implement coed conscription systems, and volunteer-based countries like the United States and the United Kingdom are expanding women's participation across all military branches. It is time for South Korea to adopt a coed military service system to resolve the shortage of military personnel and realize true gender equality."

Additionally, Ha introduced, "Volunteers serving more than three years in the military will be paid a starting monthly salary of over 2.5 million won." Regarding military personnel under conscription and volunteer systems, he stated, "We will grant additional points for public office and public sector employment, as well as housing subscription benefits."

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