A "fundamental" overhaul of Korea's military service system is vital for national security and survival, the head of the military manpower agency has said, in the face of a shrinking pool of conscripts amid a demographic cliff. Military Manpower Administration (MMA) Commissioner Hong So-young made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Thursday, noting the government is in the final stage of reviewing reform measures of the "alternative" military service system as part of such an overhaul drive. "Fundamental reform of the overall military service system is not a choice, but an indispensable task for South Korea's national security and survival," said Hong, who has spent her entire 38-year career at the agency. "Since reforming the military service system directly impacts the lives of the younger generation, it is crucial that we craft measures that can earn broad consensus and the trust of the public," she said. The MMA oversees military conscription in Korea, where all able-bodied men must complete 18 to 21 months of service under a mandatory draft system primarily aimed