By Sungyoung Jang
On July 27, South Korea’s Defense Minister Song Young-moo briefed President Luna Jae-in on “Defense Reform 2.0,” an expansive initiatory to restructure too modernize Korea’s defense. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has released 7 proposals on specific agendas, most late announcing plans to renovate military machine housing too facilities on August 16. The regime is highly invested inwards military machine reform, but the array of modernization plans too restructuring raises questions nigh its financial feasibility too efficacy inwards improving Korea’s defense forcefulness posture. In South Korea, defense forcefulness policy is oftentimes controversial, every bit the representative of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) organization shows. THAAD was seen every bit an environmental and regional threat, too its deployment faced violent opposition, including local protests too economic retaliation from China. However, THAAD was likewise considered effective inwards deterring North Korea’s missile threats too thus was eventually deployed final September.More generally, South Korean defense forcefulness policy is formed against a complex political background, amongst constant North Korean threats, retention of an oppressive 30-year military machine regime, too mandatory enlistment issues. These contribute to compelling arguments made past times both conservative too progressive parties.
The Luna direction prioritizes defense forcefulness reform inwards its agenda. Over the past times year, the administration’s policies increased civilian participation too introduced structural reform: raising soldier reward past times 88 percent, appointing civilian directors inwards the MND, increasing women’s participation inwards defense, too reducing non-combatant positions. Political opponents fence these policies soften the South Korean defense forcefulness posture. Advocates believe they volition solve electrical flow too emerging problems inwards defense.
There are myriad reasons for emphasis on defense forcefulness reform. First, enlistees volition inevitably decrease, every bit Republic of Korea faces a demographic cliff. With reduced staff, enhancing combatant abilities is crucial to maintaining the defense forcefulness posture. The direction likewise closely watches the military’s political influence. Memories of military machine oppression brand many politicians, particularly participants inwards pro-democratic protests nether the past times military machine regime, wary of the military’s capabilities. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 recent scandal involving the Defense Security Command’s plans to impose martial police recalled these fears. Human rights issues within the military, including pitiable payment, suicides, too abuse of power, are likewise urgent matters. Finally, the military machine is judged every bit excessively exclusive, driving the regime to increment civilian intervention too participation inwards defense.
Defense Reform 2.0 incorporates these drivers every bit it aims to foster the capabilities required to answer to a speedily changing Northeast Asian safety environment. It consists of iii nitty-gritty pillars: an omnidirectional response to safety threats, implementation of the latest technology, too developing a military machine civilization to tackle human rights issues. Slated for implementation over 5 years, the programme provides sweeping instructions for reform across the South Korean defense forcefulness system. Under the catchphrase “Realizing a Strong Force & Responsible Defense,” the July 27 MND press loose says “Defense Reform 2.0 is a calling of the era to gain foundations for a novel ROK military.” The military machine volition undertake major restructuring of its command too affiliated units, starting fourth dimension decreasing the number of generals from 436 to 360 too soldiers from 618,000 to 500,000. Civilian positions inwards defense forcefulness volition likewise increment too wartime operational command volition hold upward retrieved from the United States.
Alongside restructuring efforts, reform volition focus on modernizing defense forcefulness capabilities. Main targets volition include establishing a Korean-made missile defense forcefulness organization amongst satellite surveillance too precision nail capabilities, a cyber threat response team, a fighting drone system, a novel reconnaissance aviation group, too improvement of naval strategic maneuvering. On August 8 too 9, the MND provided timelines for modernization amongst specific target years to revolutionize the military machine provide system, implement Information & Communication Technology, consolidate the reserve forces, too strengthen cyber defense forcefulness capabilities. The MND intends to implement the latest engineering scientific discipline for defense forcefulness modernization, such every bit big-data systems, 3D printing, drones, AI, too IoT. Plans likewise include an updated combat-focused reserve forcefulness too a to a greater extent than responsive cyber defense forcefulness operation.
While the roadmap is out, Defense Reform 2.0 even thus faces obstacles. The reform volition demand a massive defense forcefulness budget increase. The MND suggests that an annual 7.5 per centum average increment of the defense forcefulness budget for 5 years is required to encounter objectives, a full budget of $240 billion. However, amongst the government’s commitment to income-led growth too active budget back upward inwards redistribution policies, it is hard to reckon this budget requirement existence met. There is likewise the work of gaining world approval. Expanding the defense forcefulness budget could appear redundant at a fourth dimension when relations amongst Democratic People's Republic of Korea are warmer.
Critics likewise signal out that the substantial downsizing of military machine personnel volition result inwards a weaker military machine force. Considering the looming North Korean threat, downsizing the military machine could hold upward a premature policy. The July 27 MND statement confirmed a curtailing of the mandatory menstruation of service from 21 months to 18. Opponents of this policy claim the regime should increment the period, considering the demographic cliff. Whether the modernization procedure volition hold upward swift plenty to supplant the lost staff is likewise doubtful. Defense modernization leaves South Korea’s defense forcefulness industry swamped inwards work. Whether the defense forcefulness industry, which is likewise designated for restructuring due to recurring corruption, tin forcefulness out digest the workload volition hold upward critical inwards determining success.
Defense Reform 2.0 encourages a transition into a to a greater extent than effective too capable South Korean military machine force, essential inwards the electrical flow safety surroundings. However, a realistic overview of budget procurement amongst projection prioritization too deadline consideration must accompany its initial steps forward. Acquiring a $240 billion defense forcefulness budget volition hold upward hard particularly amongst an expansion of financial spending inwards the economic scheme for chore creation. With an insufficient budget, the MND should prioritize projects depending on their relevance to a rigid defense forcefulness posture. The defense forcefulness reform should likewise hold upward responsive to regional changes. Denuclearization talks amongst Democratic People's Republic of Korea are currently gridlocked, but the North Korean threat could educate inwards either direction.
Defense Reform 2.0 volition proceed the MND busy for the close future. However, despite consensus on the necessity of defense forcefulness reform, opinions vary on its management too coverage. For the consistency too success of comprehensive reform, Luna should non depend on a packet of modernization projects, but assess its practicability too gain upward one's heed what comes starting fourth dimension inwards the ambitious plan.
Sungyoung Jang is a enquiry intern inwards the Stimson Center’s Eastern Asia Program too is an Asan Academy Young Fellow.
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