Lee pushes for 'selective enlistment' to build smart, strong armed forces

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday emphasized the necessity of Korea adopting a selective enlistment system to transform the country's armed forces into a "smart, elite and powerful military" focused on advanced equipment and technology. The president reiterated his long-standing commitment to the revised system, which was a key component of his election campaign promise.

Under the proposed system, individuals would have the option to serve as active-duty conscripts for 18-21 months or as technology-intensive noncommissioned officers for four or five years. This longer commitment is made more appealing with incentives such as higher salaries to attract volunteers. The proposal aims to maintain the broader conscription model over the long term by offering more service options.

This comes at a time when Korea continues to face a declining population of military-age men. "Amid the persistently low birthrate, maintaining the current inefficient military structure centered on manpower and infantry is neither feasible nor desirable," Lee stated during a meeting with senior secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae.