South Korea’s defence minister Ahn Gyu-back has announced that the government will roll out a voluntary conscription system next year. This statement comes after President Lee Jae-Myung called for reforms to the current system, under which military service is mandatory.
Lee government seeks reforms in conscription
The president also announced a policy change to ensure that military service leads to better job prospects and education, and to remove the mindset that military service is a “waste of their lives or a loss. The country’s population also plays a role in the policy, as a large military is needed to counter North Korea’s defence forces. Military service in South Korea has been mandatory due to the ongoing threat from North Korea. This policy dates back to the Korean War, which ended with an armistice in 1953, rather than a peace treaty, which means the war did not officially come to an end.
The remarks made during the defence minister’s press conference on Thursday come after Lee Jae-Myung called for “selective and smart conscription,” as opposed to making military service mandatory for all. “We must introduce selective conscription and quickly and thoroughly pursue defense reforms that transform our military into a smart, elite and strong military centered on advanced equipment and technologies,” said the South Korean leader, as per Yonhap news agency.
