[ROK ARMY]
SEOUL -- South Korea's defense ministry proposed a gradual troop reduction to cope with rapid demographic changes caused by a low birthrate, suggesting the military would hire more civilian staff for noncombat military posts and increase the number of female officers.
By 2022, the number of active-duty troops will be cut down from 618,000 to 500,000, the ministry said in its reform blueprint presented to President Moon Jae-in at a meeting of military commanders. Accordingly, the length of mandatory military service for draftees will be cut by three months.
The blueprint calls for the reduction of general-grade officers from 436 to 360 in 2022. As a result, 76 general-grade officers including 66 in the army would disappear in line with the realignment of military structure.
The proportion of civilian staff in the military would rise from five percent to 10 percent while the ministry would increase the number of female cadres from 10,097 to 17,043.
"We must reform the military so that we can respond flexibly to changes in the security environment," Moon said in his speech, urging the military to introduce "smart" barracks armed with advanced weapons.
South Korean troops should be reborn as "a high-tech, elite group," he said, suggesting military spending would focus on developing advanced monitoring and reconnaissance equipment and the automation of strategic weapons.
Despite an inter-Korean thaw brought by North Korea's sudden peace overture, the defense ministry called for the buildup of strategic assets such as missiles to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. A new air force reconnaissance wing will be created to bolster long-distance operations while South Korea will deploy upgraded warships.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
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