Nearly 60% of South Koreans support mandatory military service for young women, according to a survey published on August 20 by the Reform Institute, signaling a major shift in public opinion amid a falling birth rate and a shrinking number of recruits.
Shifting Public Sentiment and Survey Findings
The survey, conducted by the policy research arm of the conservative-leaning Reform Party, shows that 54.5% of women and nearly 65% of men support requiring women to undergo national service. Support is particularly high among young men, reaching 71.7% among respondents in their 20s and 30s.
Currently, all able-bodied South Korean men must complete between 18 and 21 months of mandatory military service and remain eligible for recall during national emergencies. While thousands of women serve voluntarily in the armed forces, conscription has historically applied exclusively to men.
Demographic Pressures and Military Shortages
The debate over female conscription is driven largely by a sharp population decline and falling birth rates that have severely depleted the military’s manpower. According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, approximately 332,000 men were eligible for mandatory service in 2019. That figure dropped to 257,000 in 2022 and is projected to plummet to just 120,000 by 2043.
“South Korea’s male-centered conscription system has long been closely connected to traditional gender roles,” said Hyobin Lee, a professor at Sogang University in Seoul, in an interview with DW. Lee noted that men were traditionally expected to protect the family and state, while women bore primary responsibility for household and caregiving duties.
The Debate Over Gender Equality and Technology
Changing social values have fueled the push for reform. As women’s educational and career opportunities have expanded, younger men have begun questioning why the heavy civic obligation of military service falls exclusively on males, Lee explained to DW. At the same time, the nature of warfare is evolving. Modern defense increasingly relies on advanced technologies—such as unmanned drone systems, cyber capabilities, and information networks—that demand technical proficiency rather than raw physical strength.
Despite growing support, some critics argue that forcing women into military service could create friction because other societal structures still lag behind. Lee pointed out that women in South Korea continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare responsibilities.
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