Senior Army image drawn by AI. /Online Community
In order to solve the problem of military resource shortage due to low birth rate, a debate is taking place online over the idea of mobilizing men aged 55 to 75 to create a ‘senior army’.
Choi Young-jin, a professor of political science and international studies at Chung-Ang University, made this claim in an article he contributed to the Hankyoreh on the 31st of last month, criticizing that “(the pledge for women to serve in the military) is not a policy to be considered by a country that must make all-out efforts to increase its birth rate.”
On the 29th of last month, Lee Jun-seok’s New Reform Party pledged to promote a policy that would require women to serve in the military to become police and fire officials as early as 2030.
Professor Choi Young-jin said, “Women’s military service is not a reasonable alternative to solving the military shortage,” adding, “Dozens of times the budget would have to be poured into securing 10,000 to 20,000 military resources. “To claim that women should also serve in the military under the pretext of gender equality is to view the world too narrowly,” he argued.
“There is an easier and more efficient alternative to solving the problem of military shortage,” he said. “It is to utilize healthy seniors who wish to enlist voluntarily.” “There are currently about 6.91 million men aged 55 to 75, and many of them are ready to take up arms once again for their country.”
Professor Choi Young-jin said, “If only 1% of the 6.91 million soldiers volunteer, we can secure a reserve force of about 70,000 people,” and added, “If we pay the salaries that soldiers currently receive, we can sufficiently mobilize 200,000 to 300,000 soldiers.”
As of the 1st, more than hundreds of posts related to Senior Army were posted on various online communities and social media. Posts parodying this claim are also being posted.
Netizens opposing the Senior Army asked, “Are you saying that men should join the military even after they are over 70?” “At first, only volunteers will be recruited, but won’t this eventually change to forced mobilization when there is a shortage of manpower?” and “Can executives control soldiers in their 60s and 70s?” Can you? “The hierarchy may collapse.”
On the other hand, netizens in favor said, “The poverty rate for the elderly is high in our country, and this is a policy that can solve elderly poverty.” “There are a lot of elderly people picking up waste paper right now, so wouldn’t it be a good policy if the military provides room and board?” “It’s a policy that older men without jobs would quite prefer.” Responses such as “I don’t think the intensity of work will be as strong as it was during active duty anyway.”
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2024-02-01 05:34:58
