Skeletons of a chimpanzee, left, a modern human, center, and a Neanderthal are displayed during media preview at the new Hall of Human Origins of the American Museum of Natural History, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007 in New York. This is the most comprehensive evidence of human evolution ever assembled. (AP Photo)



Conscription System Reform Should not Cause Worry by Nation

The government released a plan to reform the conscription system yesterday as a part of ‘Vision 2030 Human Resources Application Strategies’. The main contents of the plan include reducing the period of active service to six months by 2014, abolishing alternative service, introducing a paid volunteer system and social service. The government believes these are the best options for effective management and providing veteran military service resources that are needed for modern warfare. Reducing the period of service by this great extent is expected to effect promoting younger generations to enter public affairs.

However, one problem is certainly the concern about gaps in security. According to the National Defense Reform Law that has already passed through the National Assembly, our military force will be reduced to around 680 thousand persons by 2020 from 500 thousand persons in 2005. The reform of the conscription system by the government is also viewed to be adjusted to such plans. Nevertheless, the period of service in the North Korean People’s Liberation Army is far longer than ours and North Korea maintains a military force of nearly 1.2 million persons. The nation is concerned whether it is safe to drastically cut the military force and reduce the period of service.

The government also revealed that it is possible to supplement the military force that deals with up-to-date equipment with needed experts by instituting a salaried volunteer system. Although it cannot be assured that distinguished young men who have completed their military duty would reenlist as volunteers with a salary of 10 to 15 million won, which is less than the salary at an ordinary company. It is also questionable how a massive amount of budget is to be used in securing an alternative military force by abolishing public service or the police force, not to mention the paid volunteer system.

In the current situation where North Korea possesses nuclear weapons and with continuing tension throughout the Korean peninsula, the conscription reform is a matter of vital importance to the welfare of the country. Therefore, this reform that is reorganizing the base of the military system should be thoroughly studied. Problems that are pointed out after release of the plan for reforming the military service system need to be examined in detail and a cautious attitude should be taken in the specific processes to prevent any concerns of the nation.
/ 입력시간: 2007. 02.07. 08:22