Conscription in South Korea: An important example of national pride, or a reminder of Far-Eastern disregard of LGBTQ rights?
Conscription has long been a divisive and conflicting topic the world over, has produced much debate over the need for continuation in modern times. According to ‘World Population Review’ , as of 2019, there are thirty-one countries globally that require at least an eighteen-month service in the military, that including South Korea.
Conscription remains a very prominent tradition on a global scale, a specific area of prominence is in the Far-East, where a significant number of countries such as South Korea, Vietnam, China and Thailand still practice conscription.
A topic that usually splits the room in two when brought up in conversation, conscription remains an extremely divisive argument regarding relevance today.
The question must be asked then, why? By some, conscription today is seen as an archaic relic of national pride and provincial demonstration of military might. By others, it’s seen as an essential component in character building, formation of discipline and a patriotic duty and privilege to serve ones’ country.
To understand the relevance of military service today, the issue cannot be looked at face value. Multiples countries in recent times have introduced/re-introduced the draft. Take Sweden for example — national service was abolished in 2010, after a century of continuation. Only to be re-introduced in 2017.
To give you a insight into the history of conscription in South Korea’s long and varied past — look below to view the timeline.
The current state of South Korea and the influence of Western culture
Let’s set the picture of South Korea today, a vibrant, up-and coming economic superpower that has seen a remarkable upscale in economic growth since the early 2000’s. Honoured as the illustrious №1 country in technology by Forbes, and sixteenth overall regarding business, South Korea, economically is on the up.
However, there has never been a country that doesn’t experience turmoil and hardship, and it’s safe to say, South Korea has experienced its fair share. For The Korean War between 1950–53 set the country of South Korea down a road of economic uncertainty many years after the conflict was ‘settled’. Furthermore, the country didn’t see growth and relative prosperity return until the 1960’s, due to the measures taken by Park Chung-hee.
The emergence of popular culture icons has transcended the country of South Korea into a worldwide marvel… The popularisation of ‘Korean boy bands’, e.g. BTS’s recent worldwide dominion of music, the sports superstar Son Heung-min’s breakthrough into global sports-phenom, and of course let’s not forget Bong Joon-ho’s recent directional triumph that was ‘Parasite’.
The attitude towards LGBTQ rights in East-Asia
Looking at South Korea in this particular instance, it can be said that, compared to other East-Asian countries, it may be one of the more progressive - on the face of it, that is. Make no mistake, it is no paragon of virtue by any means.
South Korea claims to uphold the rights of those affected by discrimination regarding religion, race and gender etc. However, in reality, the government is said to do very little in terms of enforcing these so-called rights. Furthermore, homosexuality is generally frowned upon and same-sex marriage is forbidden.
This leads me to the case of Byun Hee-soo, a transgender Korean soldier, who was recently discharged from the military due to a gender reassignment surgery in November 2017.
“I’m a soldier of the Republic of Korea” — the melancholy voice of Byun Hee-soo addressing the media after her recent dismissal.
The issue remains a very topical and controversial peer into the current landscape in South Korea regrading tolerance. And of course, there has been a substantial outcry regarding the South Korean militarys’ decision to dismiss her.
“It shows the military’s determination to not allow a transgender in the army even for one second,” — Lim Tae-hoon, head of The Military Human Rights Center for Korea.
This represents the first landmark case of a dismissal in the conscription process in South Korea, being made due to gender — a conflict that will have an everlasting imprint into the world view of South Korea.
A real-life experience of conscription— Sanghyeon Song
To understand the practice of conscription in modern-day South Korea in greater depth, I spoke to Sanghyeon Song, a student from Osan,— who had undergone the ‘pedestrianised’ process of conscription at the youthful age of 21. This interview represents a look into the uncertain and frankly, in some cases unknown practices of South Korean conscription.
I talked to Song about his personal experience of conscription in South Korea, his views on the idea of military service in relation to relevance and history, and finally his thoughts regarding the recent news that South Korea has discharged Byun Hee-soo.
So what does this interview tell us?
What does the decision to dismiss Byun Hee-So say about the militarys’ transition/lack of transition in accommodating transgender soldiers? Well, for starters, the government have remained very adamant that the decision will stand, ever after a backlash of criticism regarding the current situation.
In a country that appears to have the world in its hands, and with so much political, social and economical change taking place only within the last one-hundred years or so, why can’t modern-day South Korea transition once more?
