Report: S.Korea Military Downsized 20% in Six Years Due to Declining Birthrate
South Korea’s military has shrunk to around 450,000 troops — a 20 percent decline in six years — according to a report released by country parliament member Choo Mi-ae’s office.
The country’s armed forces have been steadily decreasing from approximately 690,000 soldiers since the 2000s, resulting in a shortfall of around 50,000 soldiers necessary to maintain defense readiness.
Of the 50,000, about 21,000 are non-commissioned officer roles. The shortage, attributed to the declining population of eligible men for mandatory military service, could cause operational challenges, The Guardian quoted Seoul’s defense ministry as stating.
The issue was highlighted amid Seoul’s 2025 defense budget of 61 trillion won ($43.9 billion), which is estimated to be larger than the North Korean economy.
Meanwhile, its neighbor Pyongyang has around 1.3 million active personnel, in addition to about 600,000 reservists, 5.7 million Worker/Peasant Red Guard reservists, and more, Reuters reported in 2024.
South Korean Military
South Korea currently requires able-bodied male citizens aged 18 to 28 years old to enlist in mandatory military service for 18 to 24 months, which varies based on the branch.
The service period has been gradually shortened compared to the 36 months required for each conscript around the Korean War in the 1950s.
The shortened service time is credited to technological improvements, better training, a budding defense export industry, and the East Asian country’s security alliance with the US.
