Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin voiced his support Friday for a move to revive a system that rewards job seekers who have served in the military.
The defense ministry and the gender equality ministry have been at odds with each other over the system because it applies only to men who have fulfilled their mandatory military service.
Before being ruled unconstitutional in 1999, the reward system gave male applicants with a military background extra points on exams for jobs.
Critics of the system have cited discrimination against women and the disabled.
"In principle, one should not be disadvantaged for serving in the military and should receive some kind of compensation, so I am in favor (of the system)," the minister said at a meeting of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve about two years in the military as the country remains technically at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a ceasefire.
Many young men are forced to put their studies or careers on hold during their time in the military, leading to cases of illegal draft dodging.
In 2011, a group of lawmakers submitted a revision bill that calls for reviving the system with a limited extent of benefits.
Defense ministry officials have said they are preparing to submit a separate revision bill that reduces the number of beneficiaries to below 10 percent of job openings, among other limits.
Kim said his ministry plans to complete the proposal before next Thursday.
The reward system is also a source of dispute within the ruling Saenuri Party, with lawmakers on the parliamentary defense committee voicing their support in the face of opposition from their colleagues on the parliamentary gender equality committee. (Yonhap News)
