1st female armored unit officers hope to set successful example
Republic of Korea Army's second lieutenants Park Seung-ri, left, and Yun Chae-eun smile while posing on top of an Army tank in this file photo. / Courtesy of Republic of Korea Army
By Lee Min-hyung
The number of female military officers here is far below that of developed countries, largely due to the nationwide perception that only men should serve in the military.
The Ministry of National Defense has, for this reason, unveiled its plan to raise the proportion of female military officers to 8.8 percent by 2020 from this year's 5.5 percent. This year, the defense ministry selected 1,100 female military officers, and plans to more than double the number to 2,450 in 2022.
No one would doubt the military here has so far been considered a place for men. This is largely due to a series of outdated military regulations which prevent women from working for some front-line or combat units. All able-bodied men are also required to serve in the military.
But the ministry is on track to abolish such discriminative regulations to foster gender equality in the military and shatter negative perceptions of female soldiers.
In particular, two female military officers were commissioned second lieutenants for the Republic of Korea Army's armored unit earlier this year. This is the first time female officers have been selected to serve their duty in the armored division of the ROK Army.
They are second lieutenants Park Seung-ri and Yun Chae-eun.
“I want to walk in the right path as the first female officer in the nation's armored unit,” Park said in an interview, Wednesday. “At first, the title of the nation's first female officer in the division came as a burden to me, but my decision came as I felt strongly drawn to the mobility of tanks when I got a chance to drive.”
“I will do my best to set a successful example as the first-ever female armored unit officer,” she said.
Yun also said she was attracted to the Army's symbolic image of tanks and armored vehicles.
“I feel a strong sense of responsibility as the first female armored division officer here,” she said. “It is very fortunate for me to serve my military duty at the unit, as armored vehicles ― equipped with state-of-the-art technologies ― will stand at the center of next-generation ground warfare.”
“I will do my utmost to cultivate a strong leadership and mentality. Last but not least, I also hope to become a role model for would-be female officers in the armored unit.”