Currently, the Korean Peninsula maintains a conscription system, but if peace is established, a transition to a conscription system would be ideal. This would require changing the perception of military service, providing economic compensation, training specialized personnel, and protecting human rights. Once these preparations are made, a stable military system can be established after reunification.
Currently, South Korea has a conscription system that imposes the obligation of military service on all men over the age of 18 and who meet certain conditions. Since almost all adult males are required to serve in the military, it has become a major concern for many young adults, and the country is suffering huge economic losses as people in their 20s who could be used for more productive work join the military. This is basically because the Korean Peninsula is divided into North and South Korea, which is said to be the world’s powder keg, and is in a state of extreme military confrontation because it has many mountainous areas and major cities, and the distance between the armistice line and Seoul is close, so a large number of troops are needed to prevent the occupation of territory in case of war. One might wonder if it would be possible to abandon the conscription system and switch to a recruitment system if the two Koreas were reunified and the conflict between them was resolved.
Unfortunately, I think it will be difficult to abandon the conscription system even if the two Koreas are reunified for practical reasons. First, even if the conflict between North and South Korea were to disappear, the threats to the security of the Korean Peninsula would still exist, and in fact, they could become more serious. The most prominent threat is China, which is rapidly developing and becoming a superpower, threatening American hegemony. Even now, China and South Korea are at odds over the Northeast Passage and illegal fishing in the West Sea. If we look at China’s territorial disputes in the Spratly Islands and the Senkaku Islands, it can be expected that territorial disputes are likely to occur in border areas such as Mount Paektu and Mount Paektu, which will be directly bordering a unified Korea.
In addition, China needs maritime access to keep the United States in check in its quest for global hegemony. The Korean Peninsula is a very attractive bridgehead for China as a continental country to reach the sea, so it is likely that China will target it. Moreover, the presence of a pro-US state less than 1,000 kilometers from its capital is seen by Beijing as a potential threat that it will seek to subdue.
In addition to China, Japan, South Korea’s neighbor, is also in conflict with China over the Dokdo islands, and Russia, which will have a new border with South Korea due to unification, is not currently in conflict, but it is a military power with a strong military capability second only to the United States and could pose a military threat. As in the case of Germany’s reunification, reunification of the Korean Peninsula would require the consensus of neighboring countries, and it is likely that China or Russia would demand the withdrawal of U.S. troops as a condition of reunification. In fact, China has demanded the withdrawal of U.S. troops from a unified Korea. In this case, it would be difficult to abandon conscription, as the country would need to further strengthen its own defense.
Another problem is that implementing conscription immediately after reunification could lead to a skewed military population. In the South, declining birthrates have led to a shortage of military resources and a disinclination to join the military, while young men in the North are likely to apply for jobs in large numbers immediately after reunification (in fact, the Germans kept conscription in place for 20 years after reunification to prevent this from happening). In addition, senior members of the existing North Korean military are unlikely to be included in a unified South Korean army due to their responsibility for human rights abuses, and senior positions in the military will be dominated by South Koreans. In this case, differences in mindset between lower-level soldiers from North Korea and higher-level soldiers from South Korea could exacerbate conflicts within the military. Furthermore, a large proportion of North Koreans with a lack of human rights awareness could cause problems both internally and externally. Especially since the military is a group that can wield physical force, it is essential for soldiers to be aware of human rights as members of a democratic society. Neglecting this increases the risk of abuse of force, so it is imperative to address the issue of ethnic bias in the military.
To combat this, a conscription system that maintains a certain percentage of recruits regardless of where they come from is necessary. Currently, many young North Koreans do not meet South Korea’s conscription standards due to lack of physical fitness (according to the East Asian Statistical Yearbook, the average height of North Korean men is 158 centimeters, while South Korea’s military service standards for men between 146 and 158 centimeters are classified as Class 4, meaning they cannot serve on active duty). However, as nutritional conditions have improved since reunification, the number of North Koreans in the military has gradually increased, which will help to stabilize the military’s integration.
Of course, conscription is not without its problems. The biggest issue in South Korea’s current conscription system is the human rights of conscripts in the military. The military is inherently a group that restricts individual freedoms, so even if abuses are eradicated, there are still basic human rights violations. In addition, as mentioned earlier, the military is a major economic drain on the country as young men in their 20s are recruited into the military, and the short service period makes it difficult for them to gain proficiency in advanced weapon systems.
To address these issues, some advocate for a conscription system to ensure a skilled military and only recruit civilians in emergencies. However, the problem of abusive military culture won’t be solved by a conscription system alone. On the contrary, conscription may reduce public attention to problems in the military. First of all, the Korean Peninsula is only about 1,000 kilometers long from north to south and surrounded by the sea on three sides, making it difficult to defend the rear areas, so there is not enough room to recruit and train civilians. In addition, troops recruited from civilians and trained for short periods of time may be less skilled and less able to respond in the battlefield. In fact, the U.S., which abolished conscription in 1973 and switched to a selective service system, came under fire in the 2000s for recruiting the mentally ill and criminals in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq due to shortages.
As we have seen above, it is necessary for a unified Korea to retain conscription, but the problems of conscription cannot be ignored, so what is the best solution?
I propose a militia system as a solution. A militia system is a form of conscription in which officers are selected from among applicants, while regular soldiers are enlisted from their normal jobs, trained for a short period of time, and organized into a regular army in case of emergency. Switzerland is a prime example of a country that has adopted this system. A militia system allows for specialization in the operation of high-tech military equipment, and it also solves the problem of hometown bias. It also allows for a large reserve force to be called up in times of emergency, allowing for an effective response to external threats. With a militia system, actual military service is reduced to a few months, followed by regular training, which reduces the problem of military brutality and infringement on personal freedoms. In fact, Taiwan switched from a 20-month conscription system in 2003 to a four-month militia system in 2014, which reduced the number of deaths in service by about 30 percent. A militia system can also keep the public interested in issues within the military, which can reduce the problem of abuse. Additionally, it can reduce military tensions by keeping the military within a range that does not pose a threat to neighboring countries.
Conscription is preferable from a human rights perspective because it restricts fundamental rights. Unfortunately, the current situation on the Korean Peninsula makes it difficult to implement conscription. While a conscription system would be ideal in the long run once peace is established on the peninsula, it is easy to abolish but very difficult to reintroduce. Especially with military tensions still present, a shift to conscription could pose a serious risk to national security. The Korean Peninsula is currently engaged in an ongoing military confrontation with North Korea, and there are a number of variables that must be taken into account in order to implement conscription in this context.
First, a positive change in the perception of military service in society as a whole would be required. Currently, the military is perceived as a burden by many, and there is a strong tendency to avoid military service. If this perception does not improve, voluntary recruitment will become difficult, which could directly affect the military’s combat power.
Secondly, the transition to conscription requires adequate compensation and benefits. Without economic and social rewards for those who choose to serve, it will be difficult to increase the effectiveness of conscription. In particular, policies should ensure that military service leads to job security and opportunities for advancement over the long term.
Third, a system must be established to recruit and retain the right people for military jobs that require specialized expertise and experience. As advances in military technology have increased the level of competence required of military personnel, a system of continuous education and training is essential. This will create a specialized workforce and allow them to grow within the military.
Finally, systems to address human rights issues within the military must be strengthened. With the introduction of conscription, the human rights of soldiers will become even more important, so human rights training and legislation should be strengthened. This will help minimize the problem of human rights violations within the military and ensure that military service is a valuable civic experience.
In conclusion, while the current realities of the Korean Peninsula make it necessary to maintain the conscription system, ideally, in the long term, the country should move to a conscription system. In this process, various efforts are needed to change the perception of military service, establish a compensation system, train specialized personnel, and protect human rights. If these points are taken into consideration, the Korean military will be able to operate better with a conscription system when peace returns to the peninsula.
