Nearly 60% of South Koreans favor mandatory military service for women alongside men, according to a survey by the Reform Institute, the policy research arm of the conservative-leaning Reform Party. The finding represents a significant shift in public opinion on an issue long considered taboo.
The survey, published August 20, found that 65% of men supported the change, rising to 71.7% among men in their 20s and 30s, while 54.5% of women across all age groups were similarly supportive. Just 34% of respondents opposed the idea. Thousands of women already serve in the South Korean armed forces on a voluntary basis.
Demographic pressures and changing military needs have revived the debate. The Defense Ministry reported that the number of men eligible for mandatory service fell from around 332,000 in 2019 to 257,000 in 2022, with forecasts showing a further decline to 120,000 by 2043. At present, all able-bodied men must complete 18 to 21 months of service. Experts also pointed to arguments that gender equality requires women to share this civic obligation, particularly as military roles have shifted away from physically demanding combat toward technology-dependent defense systems.
Some opponents argue South Korea should instead invest more heavily in advanced technologies such as drones and unmanned systems rather than expand conscription. Song Young-Chae, a Seoul-based human rights activist who completed two years of infantry service, told DW that "the defense of the nation is traditionally the responsibility of men" and said investing in military technology was preferable. Hyobin Lee, a professor at Sogang University, noted concerns that mandatory service for women could compound existing burdens related to childbirth and childcare, potentially worsening the country's already extremely low birth rate.
The South Korean government established a task force in 2025 to revise the nation's basic defense plan, with conscription system reform high on the agenda. The plan is scheduled to be released in autumn.
