By Kwon Mee-yoo
Sookmyung Women’s University was chosen as the first women’s university to operate the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program, Tuesday, after some 40 days of competition with other women’s universities.
The first group of female ROTC cadets will complete their degree at Sookmyung in 2013.
The Ministry of National Defense announced the plan to recruit 60 female cadets and establish an ROTC at a women’s university in August and all seven female-only universities in Korea entered the race.
Professors, members of staff and even graduates were mobilized to win the competition to attract the ROTC, according to school officials.
One university emphasized its president was an ROTC graduate, while graduates from another university used their husbands’ personal connections in the military to peddle influence.
“Sookmyung submitted a plan satisfying all facility requirements from the ministry, topping the three-stage evaluation,” a ministry official said. “They also prepared an honorary junior ROTC system for high school students to urge more students to apply for the ROTC.”
Sookmyung will build a dormitory and training facilities in nearby Hyochang Stadium for 30 ROTC cadets.
The school also has to hire two former officers as professors and establish a curriculum that includes military science.
Though there is no subsidy for attracting women to the ROTC, the universities eagerly entered the race as the ROTC would help boost its academic status in the long-run.
“The Korea Military Academy produces some 20 female commissioned officers a year and having the ROTC in the university producing 30 female officers has the similar role of a military academy,” a military official said. “The quality of the Women’s Army Corps in Korea will improve.”
The ministry also selected six universities in each region — Korea University in Seoul, Myoungji University in Gyoenggi Province, Chungnam National University in Chungcheong Province, Yeungnam University in Gyeongsang Province, Chonnam National University in Jeolla Province and Kangwon National University in Gangwon Province — to draft five female ROTC students.
These model universities will start recruiting this month and announce those accepted in November. After completing two years of training in school, they will be commissioned as officers in 2013.