By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
Since the country’s top court ruled eight years ago against a system giving incentives to men who fulfilled their military service, it has resurfaced as a hot issue, as lawmakers submitted a bill to revive the system.
Early this month, a group of 13 lawmakers, led by Rep. Ko Jo-heung of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), submitted a revision bill aimed at granting additional points to those who served in the military when they take state-run exams to become public officials.
Ko, a member of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, said he will make efforts for the bill to be passed during the ongoing National Assembly session.
South Korean young men who served in the military often complain that the two-year-long mandatory service compromises their social competitiveness and call for giving them an advantage in getting jobs.
All physically and mentally fit South Korean men over 19 are obligated to serve in the military for 24-27 months. Most of them are forced to suspend their studies to join the armed forces.
Women and the disabled who cannot serve in the military, however, say offering incentives for men with military experience is a ``preferential treatment’’ in violation of equal rights.
In 1999, the Constitutional Court ruled against the incentive system, saying the provision of additional points to men with a military background is ``excessive.’’
Under the previous system, those who served in the military were able to receive an additional three to five percentage points in national exams to become public servants.
Ko’s bill aimed at giving an additional two percentage points.
``Members of the Assembly’s National Defense Committee are split over the issue. I’m not sure if the bill could be approved during this session,’’ a committee member said, asking to remain anonymous.
``I cautiously anticipate that the issue would emerge as a hot issue of debate during the upcoming election period,’’ he said.
The Ministry of National Defense backs the revision bill.
Lt. Col. Park Wang-ok at the ministry’s public affairs office said a minimum level of incentives of any kind for discharged soldiers is necessary to offset their time and efforts in the military.
``We are considering various ways of giving incentives (to discharged soldiers) in a manner not contradictory to the 1999 ruling and public opinion,’’ he said.