By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
The Military Manpower Administration is considering reviving the policy of giving additional points to men who have fulfilled their mandatory military service when they take state-run exams to become civil servants, a government source said Thursday.
The move is expected to invite a backlash from women's associations here, which have long argued it breaches the equal rights status of women and the disabled, who are not obliged to serve in the military.
According to the source, the administration plans to submit a proposal to legislate a bill to give incentives to discharged soldiers after briefing lawmakers during a National Assembly audit, Friday.
``Consensus has built that the incentive system for discharged soldiers is necessary to help prevent repeated draft dodges as well as to nurture a social environment in which those who fulfilled their military duties are respected,'' the source said, asking not to be identified.
All South Korean able-bodied men over 19 are required to serve in the military for 24-27 months. Women can serve as non-commissioned officers or officers but are not obligated under the conscription system. For most South Korean young men, the two-year-long compulsory military service is an unavoidable source of disruption as they must suspend their studies in college or quit their jobs.
In 1999, the Constitutional Court ruled against the system, upholding a petition from an association of women's organizations. The court said the measure was ``too excessive'' and violates the equal rights status of women.
Before the court's ruling, all men who served in active military duty could get an additional three to five percentage points unconditionally, on top of their original scores.
For instance, a man who got 80 points could receive five additional points. Last year, lawmakers of the then main opposition Grand National Party submitted bills to revive the incentive system, but they were scrapped after failing to be passed due to opposition from other parties.
The manpower administration is in support of a plan to give those who have served in the military two additional percentage points in their exam scores.
gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
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