Answers from Readers

What Do You Think about Veterans Extra Point System?
In Korea, only men are required to serve in the military, but every young man and woman has to serve in the army in Israel and Cuba. After 2015, women will be also required to serve in the military in Norway, but because Norwegian society has consideration for women, their service will be implemented without serving in serious conflicts. Some of the women in Korea want to be treated the same as discharged soldiers. “Military service is just military service, and we should protect gender equality,” that’s what they say. I think that’s not real gender equality. Veterans’ recruitment advantage is a small compensation that should be given to them, and we should protect it.


By Park Yoon-gyeong
Sophomore, Dept. of American Studies
dbsrud2650@naver.com

All men who do not have any health problems or exceptional conditions should perform military duties for about 2 years. This is especially hard for university students who lose critical time to study or get a job. It is a tough time for all men to endure military duties, and almost all men have trouble adjusting to society after military service. Therefore I think our society should provide an institutional strategy for men who are discharged from military service. It is unfair for men to compete with women who have more time to learn and practice, especially when it comes to exams.


By Bae Jae-wan
2nd grade student, Sunsim high school
bjw4526@naver.com

I'm in favor of additional points for military service. It is clearly stipulated in article 39 of the Constitution that all people must fulfill military duty. In the military service law, however, only adult males are obligated to do military service. It is generally said that the Constitution emphasizes not equality of outcome but equality of opportunity. That is, everyone should begin at the same time and under the same conditions, but today men lose time completing military duty during an important age. Because they have a late start, they have lost their right of equality. Therefore, additional points for military service is not only a proper reward for men’s sacrifice, but also it protects men’s rights.


By Gang Eun-ji
Freshman, Chungnam National University
ehdfjqdms@naver.com

The veterans extra point system is considered to be a very sensitive issue in Korea. I take it for granted that discharged soldiers are treated well. But I am opposed to the veterans extra point system because the system doesn't have universality. The veterans extra point system was applied to only the civil service examination., but now not all discharged soldiers benefit from the veterans extra point system. Also, the veterans extra point system is against the equal rights of the Constitution. It discriminates against women and the disabled. Because of the above reasons, I think the veterans extra point system should be eliminated. Although I am opposed to the veterans extra point system, I think discharged soldiers should be given other benefits.


By Lee So-min
Freshman, Daegu University
somin7872@naver.com