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South Korea is facing a demographic dilemma that has now turned into a national security issue. With birth rates plunging to the world’s lowest and the number of young men eligible for compulsory military service dropping rapidly, Seoul is debating a bold reform: enlisting women as rank-and-file soldiers.
A new Bill introduced by Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the ruling People Power Party calls for military authorities to open barracks to women and accept voluntary female applicants for enlisted service. At present, women can only serve as officers or non-commissioned officers. If passed, the bill would mark a historic shift in the country’s male-dominated conscription system, which has been central to South Korea’s identity and defence posture for decades.
“The number of male conscripts will fall to 100,000 annually within the next 20 years,” Kim warned, stressing that “a drastic measure is needed to ensure national security.” The proposal also requires annual reporting to Parliament on the experiences of female soldiers, aiming to ensure transparency and accountability as the system evolves.
The urgency is apparent. South Korea’s active-duty force has shrunk from 560,000 in 2019 to 450,000 in mid-2025, well below the 500,000 troops that many experts consider the minimum needed to deter North Korea, which still maintains an army of around one million. The army has been hit hardest, losing 100,000 enlisted troops in just six years.
The debate reflects broader social change. While conscription has long been a rite of passage for South Korean men, younger generations are increasingly resistant to mandatory service, and public opinion is shifting on gender roles in defence. Advocates argue that integrating women into the enlisted ranks would not only strengthen manpower but also modernise the military in line with global practices. Critics, however, caution about cultural resistance within barracks and the need for infrastructure changes to accommodate mixed-gender service.
Beyond demographics, strategists note that South Korea cannot rely on numbers alone. The government is investing in advanced defence technologies, autonomous drones, hypersonic missiles, and long-range strike capabilities to maintain an edge against evolving threats. But until such modernisation reaches full scale, troop numbers remain critical to national security.
As Seoul stands at a crossroads, the question is no longer whether the military should adapt, but how fast. Enlisting women as soldiers could prove both a practical solution to a looming crisis and a powerful symbol of a more inclusive future for South Korea’s defence.
Anukriti
Research Associate, Bharatshakti.in
