S. Korea shortens military service

By Lee Min-hyung

The government has decided to reduce mandatory military service periods for conscripted soldiers, allowing Army soldiers who enlist in 2020 to serve only 18 months for their military duty.

The plan was approved at a Cabinet meeting, Tuesday.

The military plans to gradually decrease the service period by 2020. Under the plan, the period of military service for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps will be decreased by three months in 2020. The service length for Air Force soldiers will be reduced by two months allowing them to fulfill their duty in 19 months beginning in 2020, according to the plan.

This was part of President Moon Jae-in's campaign pledge last year. At that time, he pledged to cut the period to 18 months within his five-year presidency which ends in 2022.

Some are raising pessimistic voices over the move, as they argue the decision will bring a reduction in military readiness amid concerns about a decreasing number of troops in the services.

But the military believes the decision will help it adapt to rapid changes in the defense security environment by reducing its reliance on traditional troops and embracing state-of-the-art combat systems.

This is part of the Defense Reform 2.0 drive under which the military aims to replace its outdated systems with more efficient ones equipped with emerging technologies, such as virtual reality and drones. This will fill the void left by the declining number of troops here, according to the reform drive.

To prepare for declining population, the military is accepting applicants in charge of management of such emerging tech platforms ― such as a drone driver.

More than 610,000 conscripted soldiers are serving in the military, but the ministry plans to cut the number to 500,000 by 2022.

“The drive to cut the number of troops is part of the military's reform plan to transform itself into tech-driven armed forces,” a military official said.

Starting this year, the defense ministry is going all-out to introduce new tech platforms in use for its troop management. The military aims to establish a data-driven logistics system in units across the nation beginning in 2020.

The military believes the central logistics platform will streamline its outdated supply chains more efficiently.

“The drive is also in line with the government's ongoing efforts to better manage human resources amid the shrinking population,” he said.