Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
S. Korean military faces surge in officers, NCOs seeking early retirement
Newly commissioned officers march during the 60th graduation and commissioning ceremony at the Army Academy in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, Feb. 25. Courtesy of Republic of Korea Army
By Kim Hyun-bin
A record 2,502 South Korean military officers applied last year for early honorable discharge, a program that allows service members to leave the service before reaching mandatory retirement, according to data submitted by the Ministry of National Defense to the National Assembly.
The exodus of experienced military personnel presents a significant challenge for the armed forces, which rely on a pool of long-serving officers to maintain operational readiness and leadership continuity. The trend not only raises concerns about a brain drain but also signals growing dissatisfaction among a key segment of the military's professional ranks, potentially affecting morale and combat readiness amid persistent tensions with North Korea.
Of the applicants, 782 were commissioned officers and 1,720 were noncommissioned officers, nearly double the defense ministry’s initial estimate of 1,363. After a review process, 1,936 applications were approved, including 720 officers and 1,216 noncommissioned officers, while the remaining 566 were rejected.
The honorable discharge program is available to military personnel with more than 20 years of service who voluntarily leave before retirement. Eligible service members can receive an additional discharge allowance proportional to the period remaining until they reach retirement age. Last year, a total of 136 billion won ($97.7 million) was paid in discharge allowances.
Applications for early honorable discharge have risen sharply over the past five years. Annual applicant numbers were 1,176 in 2020, 1,241 in 2021, 1,743 in 2022, 2,364 in 2023 and 2,502 last year. Noncommissioned officer applications nearly tripled over the same period, rising from 609 in 2020 to 1,720 last year. As of August this year, 2,301 service members had applied, including 738 officers and 1,563 noncommissioned officers.
“We are conducting research to pinpoint the exact causes of mid-level officers’ early departures and plan to develop and implement measures based on the findings,” a Ministry of National Defense official said.
Experts attribute the rising numbers to tough working conditions relative to compensation.
The Korea Institute for Defense Analyses surveyed 417 officers with at least five years of service and found that the main reasons for seeking early discharge included low pay relative to workload (22.5 percent), loss of job satisfaction from administrative duties (20.1 percent), feelings of relative deprivation due to rising pay for rank-and-file soldiers (10.6 percent) and family separation due to reassignment (9.6 percent).
Military analysts warn that the trend could affect operational efficiency.
Mid-level officers play a central role in managing units and training younger personnel. Their early departure could place additional strain on remaining staff and affect troop readiness.
Korea is already facing a shrinking pool of military personnel due to a low birthrate and an aging population. The early exit of experienced officers may exacerbate troop shortages further.
“We need to analyze why these people are leaving. In the past, the salary wasn’t bad compared to the private sector, and there were certain advantages. But now, the gap has become too wide,” said Kim Dae-young, a military commentator. “So people think, ‘Rather than staying here and dealing with disputes, it’s better to leave early and work outside,’ and that’s why it’s happening. The bottom line is this: unless pay, benefits and welfare are brought closer to — or even above — what society offers, it will be very difficult to prevent people from leaving.”