This article argues that the coercive nature of conscription leads to maladjustment and conflict in military life, and uses military experience to demonstrate that voluntary enlistment is a realistic alternative that can solve the problem while maintaining military strength.
Many years ago, a famous South Korean entertainer was banned from entering the country for evading military service. A presidential candidate’s son’s military service also caused his approval rating to plummet. In South Korea, the military is a highly publicized issue. A politician called for the abolition of conscription and the implementation of a volunteer military system. Since then, conscription and volunteer enlistment have been a social issue for some time. Until I enlisted in the military, I thought that the conscription system was necessary due to the nature of Korea as a divided country. However, after spending two years in the military and experiencing various problems caused by conscription, I eventually came to agree with the idea of voluntary enlistment. In this article, I will argue that voluntary enlistment is a realistic possibility and explain why it is desirable based on my military experience.
The military exists to defend the homeland. The main reason for opposing conscription is that the military should not be reduced in a divided country. It is also argued that the military is currently paid a small salary, and if the salary of the soldiers increases due to conscription, it will be difficult for them to afford it.
Voluntary enlistment will reduce the number of troops. However, the argument that volunteer enlistment will reduce military power is based on the premise that ‘manpower = power’. Modern warfare is called “button warfare” and relies on technology rather than manpower. Advances in technology have made tactical actions such as reconnaissance and bombing using drones possible. When high-performance missiles have the power to destroy entire cities, the idea of relying on simple infantry forces is an argument that hasn’t kept up with the times. In fact, even in the battle between the United States and Iraq, the U.S. had 180,000 soldiers and the Iraqis had 1 million, but the U.S. won.
Currently, South Korea has been able to maintain a large number of troops at a low cost due to its conscription system. In this situation, raising the salaries of soldiers for a voluntary enlistment system would be difficult to handle the sudden increase in the budget. However, this problem can be solved if the defense budget is used properly. The South Korean Ministry of Defense charges 1.5 million won for a simple bed that can be purchased on the market for 150,000 won. In addition, there are numerous irregularities in military payments, such as inferior quality sleeping bags being delivered at a higher price than those available on the market. If the leaky defense budget is properly used to crack down on military payment irregularities, the financial burden of implementing a volunteer enlistment system can be reduced.
Contrary to many people’s fears, a voluntary military enlistment system is realistically feasible. But how does it differ from conscription, and can it solve the problems of conscription? The biggest difference between a volunteer army and a conscripted army is the willingness of the soldier. In a volunteer system, you can choose to become a soldier, but in a conscription system, you can’t. Therefore, in a volunteer system, you can avoid it if it doesn’t suit your personality, and you need to work hard to advance because the military is your workplace. On the other hand, in a conscription system, you’re forced to spend two years in the military, and most people can’t wait to get out. Most of the problems with conscription stem from its compulsion.
Even in a conscription system, not everyone is obligated to serve in the military. Those who are deemed physically or mentally unfit through a physical examination are given alternative service as a public service worker. In this way, conscription has a way of filtering out people who aren’t suitable for the military.
However, not everyone who passes the physical exam is a good fit for the military. In fact, 130 people have committed suicide in the military in the past year, and many have not completed their enlistment. I’ve seen six early retirements in my time in the military, and half of them, three of them, were discharged after being found unfit for duty due to maladjustment. The problem for them isn’t just the trauma of the military, but the fact that their early discharge stays on their record and puts them at a disadvantage when seeking employment. The last thing they want is to have their careers and futures dictated by their forced military service, and when their frustration with not fitting in is misdirected, it can lead to extreme options like shooting and suicide.
The underlying cause of these problems is that the military attracts people who have a hard time fitting in. Even people who are physically and mentally healthy may not be able to easily adapt to the military environment, which is very different from the environment they are used to. Being forced to join the military will always cause problems with maladjustment. However, with a voluntary enlistment system, you can choose where and what you want to do in the military. If it doesn’t work for you, you can leave the military, which prevents problems caused by misfits.
Even if you’re not a misfit, you’ve probably experienced conflict with others in the military. Soldiers are in an undesirable place at an undesirable time, doing an undesirable job, and are basically disgruntled, so conflicts often arise over the smallest things. In particular, there is always a conflict between a senior who wants to do his job and a junior who is forced to do it. This is not only between soldiers, but also between officers and soldiers. In fact, many people cite their opposing or immediate officers as the people they disliked the most in the military. In such a situation, it’s doubtful that the platoon would be able to fight if war broke out.
However, if a volunteer enlistment system is implemented, there will be more people with a sense of mission and responsibility, and conflicts caused by shirking responsibilities will be reduced. Therefore, it has the potential to create a stronger military through the elaboration of a small number of elites.
Also, two years in the military is currently considered “wasted time” by most. This is why the military has recently been encouraging self-improvement. However, in my personal experience, I’ve never seen more than five people in the reading room in my unit, and one could argue that those who don’t utilize the time given to them won’t use it to improve themselves if they don’t end up in the military. As mentioned earlier, the perception of two years in the military is “wasted time”. Many people consider this wasted time to be a step ahead of the curve, but if the military were to enlist, this wasted time would be eliminated for the general population. If you don’t improve yourself during this time, you will fall behind others. Human psychology is such that we want to be at least at the same level as others, so a voluntary enlistment system will provide the conditions for self-development for young men in their 20s who are wasting their time in the military.
The Ministry of National Defense, which has been greatly embarrassed by human rights incidents in the military in recent years, has been trying to reform the military with barracks innovation, but the current problems of the military are not being solved because they stem from the conscription system, which requires mandatory military service. An alternative to conscription has been proposed: voluntary enlistment. Some argue that this is not feasible due to defense and budgetary concerns. However, as explained earlier, military experts agree that a volunteer military is a viable option. It would also solve the problems of the conscription system, so it should be implemented.
