GYERYONGDAE — President Lee Jae-myung said on the 1st that South Korea must press ahead with the creation of a "National Armed Forces Academy," a unified officer training system designed for future warfare.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day, held on a runway at the Gyeryongdae military complex in South Chungcheong Province, Lee said the country "must establish a National Armed Forces Academy in preparation for future warfare and produce world-class elite officers equipped with joint operational capability." He added, "I ask that we listen to a range of views, unite the military behind this, and move swiftly and boldly to push forward the creation of the academy."
The remarks point to a plan to fundamentally overhaul the military's command structure and talent development system as artificial intelligence, drones, robotics, space and cyber warfare reshape the nature of combat. Lee called the demographic cliff and the shrinking pool of draft-age men "another challenge," adding that "the only way past it is sweeping defense reform."
Lee also outlined a plan to redesign the country's overall defense posture into a "smart elite military," including advancing AI and manned-unmanned teaming systems and restructuring the force accordingly. He said the government would accelerate development of future capabilities such as high-energy laser interceptors, AI-based command and control systems and high-powered missiles, while upgrading the Korean-style three-axis system.
For restructuring the force, he proposed a "selective volunteer service" system. Under the plan, young men would choose between serving as conscripts, whose terms are relatively short, and becoming "technology-intensive noncommissioned officers" on longer terms that allow them to plan ahead for employment and education. The share of NCOs would be expanded to shift the military toward a structure centered on career personnel.
He also laid out measures to strengthen reserve forces, saying the government would bolster reserve capability through more substantive mobilization training and a standing reserve system. He pledged continued improvements in conditions, including sharp increases in base pay for junior officers and incentives for short-term NCOs.
To support the reform drive, the government has set next year's defense budget at 73 trillion won ($52.1 billion), up 8.2% from this year. "The morale of our troops is itself our defense capability," Lee said. "We will build a military where those who serve can say it was a proud choice."
