"National security is not the monopoly of men. Even combat branches of the Army should be opened to women," Col. Kim Hwa-sook, retd., told a seminar titled "Is National Security Confined to Men?" on Tuesday. "The ratio of female officers should be raised from the current 2.3 percent to 15 percent." She expressed hope that Korea, like Israel, would make military services compulsory for women. The seminar was sponsored by the National Assembly’s Security Forum.

"In a combat strength evaluation during my Army service, my platoon was rated excellent," reminisced freelance broadcaster Son Sun-ae, who retired with the ranks of first lieutenant. "If the military forces are to be cut, the Women's Army Corps should be expanded even if there are fewer men." She said when fellow broadcasters asked her why an intelligent woman like her would serve in the military she told them, "Isn't it natural for intelligent people to do military service?"

Ko Dok-soon, the director of the National Defense Research Institute, said “women power” should be increased not only in the Defense Ministry but also in other security agencies like the National Security Council and the Foreign Ministry.

The seminar was attended by opposition Grand National Party chairwomen Park Geun-hye and lawmakers Lee Hye-hoon, Park Chan-sook and Na Kyong-won. Most keynote speakers, panelists and spectators were also women.

(englishnews@chosun.com )