By Lee Min-hyung
The government proposed a defense budget of 46.7 trillion won ($42 billion) for next year, up 8.2 percent from this year and the largest in 10 years, amid growing security uncertainty here and abroad, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.
The rate is double the average growth rate of 4.4 percent between 2010 and 2017.
The cost for troop management topped the list in a specific breakdown of the 2019 budget plan.
The ministry said it allocated 31.32 trillion won for this which will be used for enhancing the welfare of conscript soldiers and bringing in infrastructure to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The ministry believes this will also help vitalize the local economy by creating more jobs.
“We will use the budget with the focus on training troops with smart equipment, as part of efforts to prepare for their decreasing numbers,” a military official said. “The budget will be used to establish stronger armed forces.”
The number of conscript soldiers here is on a rapid decline and will reach 500,000 in 2022, down from 618,000 at the beginning of this year, according to the ministry.
The ministry has also allotted 15.37 trillion won for introducing and improving the military's combat and weapon systems, according to the ministry. This is the second-largest category in the budget.
In that category, the ministry will spend 5.07 trillion won to establish and upgrade defense systems against North Korea's possible missile and nuclear provocations. The systems include what is called the Korea Air and Missile Defense platform ― a local defense system aimed at shooting down missiles from North Korea.
Despite the ongoing peace mood on the Korean Peninsula, the ministry decided to raise the annual defense budget. This is part of President Moon Jae-in's defense policy drive of “peace through power,” according to the ministry.
The ministry plans to submit the details of the budget to the National Assembly, Friday.
Under the ministry's so-called “Defense Reform 2.0” drive, the ministry hopes to focus on equipping troops with emerging technologies ― such as drones and 3D printing ― in the coming years.
“We are pushing ahead with the defense reform drive in our bid to build stronger troops that can effectively deal with any potential threats amid the uncertain security outlook here and abroad,” the ministry said.
“To lay the ground for the reform drive, we have decided to enlarge next years' defense budget,” it added.