This monograph focuses on the status of North Korean women
serving their duties as soldiers through military service and the
consciousness modifications after their discharge.
According to official figures, the percentage of female military
personnel ...
This monograph focuses on the status of North Korean women
serving their duties as soldiers through military service and the
consciousness modifications after their discharge.
According to official figures, the percentage of female military
personnel in North Korea is estimated up to 10 to 30 percent of the
total North Korean forces.
The research began due to the fact that the academic research for
women's participaiton in North Korean military is somewhat lacking,
although the importance of women in North Korean forces is
increasing, due to the increase in number of women soldiers and their
various task performances. I also wanted to find out why female
soldiers' status and roles are changing in the process of strengthening
the North Korean military. I especially focused on finding out the
motive of North Korean women to join the military, maintain the large
number of troops, and derive changes in consciousness during and
after their discharge from the military.
Through a theoretical review in the military roles of North Korean
women, the study draws the concept, "Symbolic functions and the roles
of female soldiers," and applies it to "Military policy changes" throughout the 3 periods of North Korea regime, the eras of Kim Il
Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un.
The main task of the monograph is to examine and compare the
changes in the military policy due to changes in the four military
routes and situations at home & abroad since 1960 when the North
Korea's military policy was established. The process included the 3
periods of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un, and the
significant results in the process of modifications.
Currently, the causal relationship between maintaining the North
Korea military and managing female soldiers was derived by studying
the status and management process of women's military service. The
official publications from the regime were used as the primary sources
to acquire the actual performance of female soldiers, due to the fact
that Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il’s edicts are applied above the party
regulations and constitution.
For Kim Jong Il’s period, his New Year's speeches were applied to
track down the process of forming and modifying military policies.
Changes of methods in recruiting and utilizing female soldiers were
verified by means of in-depth interviews. The interviews were conducted
with 20 North Korean defectors who had served as female soldiers in
the nK forces, to increase the credibility of the analysis results by
securing the accuracy of the research data.
By studying the military status of North Korean women, I was able to
acknowledge that their experiences in the military make the loyalty to
the country and the combat power empowers their self-esteem, under
the premise of individual differences in awareness of difficulties in real
life and situation changes.
As the result of the study, I found out that the number of female
soldiers are increasing along with participation level in the military
service. In connection to this, the social atmosphere that the military
service itself is a choice from the state was formed, which made the
active participations in service as honorable acts.
Also, as a subjective criterion for serving in the military, " loyalty "
has become a concept of learning, by following Joseon's female heroes since their childhoods. Most female soldiers answered that they were
determined to become a “Unified soldier, loyal to the party and the
leader’ and that their combat power was high. Especially, they
described the North Korean women as "keen," saying the unity of the
unit and atmosphere that they should be better than the men were well
maintained.
Female soldiers are living in the barracks as part of preparations for
the combat missions. The thing that is considered most importantly in
the military service is the preparations for combat missions. Also, the
idea that of being the best in the military assures successful life in the
future, while the opposite cripples not only their future, but also their
children’s keeps the active atmosphere in barracks. “Officer mark”,
which is essential for success in North Korea society, is used as an
inducement for the regime to acquire resourceful talents through
joining the party, officer recruit, college recommendation, etc. As
shown above, it should be recognized that the nK female soldiers are
not only diligent women in uniform, but also actual fighters prepared
for combat missions.
The significances of the monograph prove that recognizing the
importance of women in North Korea is something that should not be
overlooked in nK research. Also, although there are limitations for
women in North Korea, serving as a female soldier suggests that it is
an opportunity for them to rank up. The new perspective on North
Korean female soldiers, which is not shown on the surface, will also not
only be important as the study itself, but also to the understanding of
the North Korea regime and contributing to establishing related policies.