“Korean women should also serve in the military to become strong and learn self-discipline,” preached one of South Korea’s leading women entrepreneurs.

“Look at the women in Israel and Sweden,” said Kim Sung-joo, the founder and CEO of fashion retailer Sungjoo Group, pointing out the two countries where women also serve in the military. “These women are much more proactive and take more initiatives in life than their South Korean counterparts,” the Hankook Ilbo, a sister daily of The Korea Times, quoted her as saying in a seminar.

In South Korea, military service is compulsory. But women are exempted.

Kim, 54, who became well-known when she acquired the German luxury brand, MCM, said today’s companies also need strong women. “How could your company put you in a responsible position when your first instinct is to run away during the time of the company’s difficulty?”

Kim noted that today’s military draft system in South Korea has some unfairness. Only men have to serve over two years in South Korea. She suggested that the draft system should change into a career military service, which also accepts women.

Kim said the government could encourage more women to join the military by giving job incentives for women who served in the military, it said.