Lee pushes for 'selective enlistment' to build smart, strong armed forces
President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday stressed the need for Korea to adopt a selective enlistment system to transform the country’s armed forces into a “smart, elite and powerful military” centered on advanced equipment and technology. The president reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to the revised system, which was one of his election campaign pledges. The proposed system would let…
President Lee Jae Myung has emphasized the importance of implementing a selective enlistment system in Korea to modernize the nation's armed forces. He expressed his long-standing dedication to the revised system, which is a key component of his election campaign promises. The proposed system would offer individuals the choice between active-duty conscription for 18-21 months or technology-driven noncommissioned officer positions for four or five years.
This longer commitment would be compensated with higher salaries to attract more volunteers. The objective is to maintain the existing conscription model while broadening service options, as Korea continues to face the challenges of a declining population of military-age men. During a discussion with senior officials at the Cheong Wa Dae, Lee stated that in the face of persistently low birthrates, sustaining the current military structure, which is heavily reliant on manpower and infantry, is neither practical nor desirable.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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