Gov't 2026 budget for military manpower agency up 9.4%

Hong So-young, chief of the Military Manpower Administration, speaks during a parliamentary defense committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Nov. 5. Yonhap

The Military Manpower Administration said Thursday its budget for next year has been set at 517.8 billion won ($351.5 million), up 9.4 percent from the previous year.

Under the plan, the agency plans to use 20.4 billion won to prevent and track down attempts to evade the mandatory military service and 11.9 billion for medical and digital forensic equipment.

In Korea, all able-bodied men must serve in the military for at least 18 months.

On Tuesday, the National Assembly passed next year's budget of 727.9 trillion won aimed at increasing spending on the economy and defense following a last-minute agreement between rival parties.