Essay #2 rewrite

Su Min Song

Prof. Kyle Brebner

IERW (04)

20 November 2015

The Problem of Korean Military System

All able-bodied Korean men have to serve in the military for two years. Since the Korean War, the conscription system which forces men to serve in the army has been maintained continually in South Korea. However, the present South Korean system of military conscription should be phased out. All men should not be required to serve in the military in South Korea because it is serious loss of efficiency, the policy brings about a waste of time, and it is a violation of human rights.

The conscription system of South Korea can cause lowering efficiency of military function because of infirmity of will caused by forced service. Conscription is compulsory system that forces men to serve in the army, even men who do not want to serve. Therefore, soldiers who did not want to serve in the army may have no sense of responsibility and may not try hard. While, some people may think that all men have to serve two years in the army because North and South Korea are in a state of armistice, many military experts are calling for abolishing conscription. For example, according to former President Roh Moo-hyun’s military administration, they pointed to the large number of countries that have abolished or are abolishing conscription. Germany used to be divided into East and West Germany just like Korea is separated into North and South. However, Germany stuck to conscription after unification, but complete abolition of military conscription in 2011 because of the lower military efficiency. Therefore, serving in the military with who want to be soldier is better way than conscription system, because they will work hard and have sense of responsibility.

Another reason all men should not be required to serve in military is that the compulsory policy takes time away from Korean men. While some people say that the term of military service is continuously being decreased, most experts say that the reduction of the period of military service is not enough for Korean men. According to the National Statistical Office, research shows that most of South Korean men take two years off or quit their job to serve in the military. They spend too much valuable time in their twenties doing military service. Even though the government is implementing the policy that shortens the military service term, they lose so much of their lives in the army. If the conscription system falls out, they can spend two years to their own suitable way such as studying, working or etc.

Finally, compulsory military service is a violation of human rights. Have you ever heard of the religion Jehovah's Witnesses? Most of people who believe in Jehovah's Witnesses were object to serving in the army for religious reasons. They refuse to serve on the grounds that the military teaches the ways to murder. They say that they do not want to learn about the ways of murder like shooting a rifle, throwing a grenade, and so on. They are known as conscientious objectors and they choose to go to prison for three years instead of serving in the military. All of the people in the world have a right to believe the religion they want. However, they have to go prison just for the reason of believing Jehovah's Witnesses and seeking peace. According to the online article "An Illusion Called National Security, Permit Conscientious Objection," about 7,000 conscientious objectors are currently behind bars. The Constitution of the Republic of Korea guarantees freedom of conscience. The conscientious objection to the military service is based on freedom of conscience, so conscientious objectors have a right to seek for peace. Therefore, this right should not be violated because the constitution guarantees it.

Since the conscription system was implemented, we can find many problems of the conscription system and this system causes lowering efficiency of the military, it takes time away from Korean men, and it even violates their human rights. Is there still any reason to maintain the conscription system? Korea government should be adopted either a volunteer military system or a mixed voluntary and conscription system to solve current conscription’s system problems.