By Michelle Ndaga.
South Korea’s armed forces have shrunk to about 450,000 personnel a 20% drop in six years as the nation’s record-low birth rate sharply reduces the pool of eligible conscripts, a defense ministry report revealed on Sunday.
With a fertility rate of just 0.75 births per woman, the lowest in the world, authorities warn the decline is undermining military readiness against nuclear-armed North Korea, which maintains some 1.3 million active troops.
A recent study by South Korean researchers said the country needs at least 500,000 soldiers to defend against a potential northern attack, warning Seoul is now in a “structurally difficult position” to succeed in defence without urgent national measures.
The report shows the number of army divisions has fallen from 59 in 2006 to 42, through disbandment and mergers. While compulsory 18-month service remains in place for able bodied men, military duty is unpopular, and some conservatives are pushing to conscript women to offset demographic decline.
South Korea has boosted its 2025 defense budget to over 60 trillion won ($43 billion) exceeding North Korea’s entire GDP as regional tensions rise. Experts warn that if the current population trend continues, the country’s 50 million people could shrink by half within 60 years.
