'Fundamental' overhaul of military service system vital for nat'l security: MMA chief

The head of Korea's military manpower agency, Hong So-young, has emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of the country's military service system to ensure national security and survival. In an interview with Yonhap News Agency, Hong stated that this fundamental reform is not merely an option, but an indispensable task for South Korea's future.

With a shrinking pool of conscripts due to demographic changes and an aging population, the MMA, of which Hong is the Commissioner, is in the final stages of reviewing reform measures for the alternative military service system. Hong, who has dedicated her entire 38-year career to the agency, stressed the importance of crafting measures that can garner broad public consensus and trust, given that reforming the military service system directly affects the lives of the younger generation.

The MMA is responsible for overseeing military conscription in Korea, a system that mandates all able-bodied men to complete 18 to 21 months of service, primarily as a measure to bolster the nation's defense capabilities.