South Korea’s renewed debate over female conscription is exposing the substantial changes to military infrastructure, personnel management and institutional safeguards that would be necessary for an expanded draft to improve combat readiness.

The issue resurfaced during an Oct. 12 parliamentary audit, when minor opposition Reform Party lawmaker Cheon Ha-ram called for consideration of conscription for both sexes, given the country’s low birth rate. Main opposition People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Yoo Young-ha urged the government to examine women’s military service.

Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Hong So-young said that neither the Defense Ministry nor her agency was formally examining