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South Korea considering exempting fathers of three from military service
Lawmakers in South Korea are considering a new proposal that could exempt men from compulsory military service if they have three or more children. The proposed bill has stirred controversy in the country, with many questioning its potential implications for the military and the society as a whole.
The proposal comes as South Korea faces a demographic crisis, with an aging population and declining birth rates. The government has been trying to encourage people to have more children, but so far, its efforts have been unsuccessful. Last month, the country recorded the world's lowest fertility rate with the number falling to a new low. The proposal to exempt men from military service is seen as a new approach to addressing the problem.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As per the proposal, men will be exempted from military service if they have three or more children before they turn 30. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SouthKorea?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SouthKorea</a><a href="https://t.co/0xbJENPTDU">https://t.co/0xbJENPTDU</a></p>— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaToday/status/1640599395300261889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Under the current system, all able-bodied South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to serve in the military for about two years. The mandatory military service has long been considered a rite of passage for young men in the country, but it also poses significant challenges for individuals who want to pursue higher education or start a career. The proposed bill, which is still in the early stages of discussion, would allow men who have three or more children to be exempted from military service.
The proposal has sparked heated debates in the country, with many people expressing their opinions on social media and other platforms. Some have praised the proposal as a progressive measure to address the demographic crisis, while others have criticized it as a shortsighted solution that could have unintended consequences.
Supporters of the bill argue that it would help boost the country's birth rate and address the problem of an aging population. They also believe that it would give men the freedom to pursue their career or education without worrying about military service.
However, critics of the proposal argue that it would have a negative impact on the military. They believe that exempting men with children could reduce the number of eligible candidates for military service and undermine the country's defense capabilities.
Some also worry that the bill could lead to discrimination against women and single men who cannot or choose not to have children. Some also pointed out the unwanted costs that young people would have to incur if they plan on having a big family. Many experts also called the idea ''dangerous'' and ''laughable.'' ''We cannot ask people to have babies for the national economic growth or the sustainability of the country—we shouldn't think of fertility as such a tool,'' said a university professor.
As the discussions continue, it remains to be seen whether the proposal will become law and how it will affect South Korean society and its military. The debate raises important questions about the relationship between military service and family policy, and the challenges of addressing complex social problems in a rapidly changing world. But Hey, maybe it's worth a shot. Maybe we'll have a whole new generation of soldiers born nine months from now.
