(LEAD) Lee calls for defense reforms centered on 'smart' military, selective conscription

SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung has called for urgent defense reforms focused on creating a "smart" military through advanced technologies and selective conscription. During a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee emphasized that South Korea's declining birth rate makes maintaining an inefficient military structure with a large infantry contingent both undesirable and impossible.

He stressed the need for selective conscription to transform the military into a strong, elite force equipped with cutting-edge technology.

Lee highlighted the importance of redesigning the military system to ensure that youth, the backbone of national defense, can build better lives for their future. He advocated for policies that would guarantee military service leads to good employment opportunities, education, and wealth accumulation. Lee expressed concern that people should not view their time in the military as a waste or a loss.

The president also dedicated a significant portion of his remarks to real estate policy, a critical issue due to soaring housing prices and recent tax reforms. The government announced plans to construct over 230,000 additional homes in the Seoul metropolitan area by accelerating development on public land and supporting private-sector projects.

However, Lee pointed out that a supply shortage has emerged due to permit backlogs, construction starts, and declining permits since 2022. He called for extraordinary efforts to address the shortfall, suggesting measures such as shortening permit procedures and revising related laws and systems to boost housing supply.