As South Korea grapples with a declining birth rate and a shrinking pool of young men available for the country’s mandatory military service, New Reform Party (NRP) leader Lee Jun Seok’s proposal to make military service mandatory for women seeking public sector roles has sparked a heated debate.

While the proposal aims to address the country’s demographic challenges and ease the burden on male conscripts, it also highlights the deep-seated gender discrimination and inadequate facilities for women in the South Korean military.

Lee’s proposal, announced ahead of the April 10 general elections, would require women aspiring to positions in the