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South Korea’s military has declined to about 450,000 personnel, a drop of 20% in six years, according to a defence ministry report released by a ruling party lawmaker on Sunday.
Officials attribute the reduction mainly to the country’s record-low birth rate, now at 0.75 births per woman — the lowest in the world.
Compulsory military service remains in place as South Korea is still technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea.
A study by South Korean researchers in July said the country needs at least 500,000 soldiers to defend against a potential attack from the North, which has an estimated 1.3 million active-duty troops. The report described the gap in military size as placing South Korea in a “structurally difficult position to succeed in defence” and called for “decisive action at the national level” to maintain troop numbers above 500,000.
The number of army divisions has dropped from 59 in 2006 to 42, with several units either disbanded or merged, the defence ministry report said. The document was sent to Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae, who disclosed it on Sunday.
South Korea has increased its defence budget amid rising regional tensions. The 2025 budget exceeds 60 trillion won (\$43bn; £32bn), more than North Korea’s total GDP.
All able-bodied South Korean men must serve 18 months in the military, with limited exceptions and occasional deferments. The requirement is unpopular with many, with critics saying it disrupts young men’s careers. The debate over conscription has also become linked to broader gender equality discussions, with some conservatives proposing female conscription in light of demographic challenges.
The country has repeatedly broken its own record for the world’s lowest birth rate: 0.98 in 2018, 0.84 in 2020, 0.72 in 2023, and 0.75 in 2024. Experts warn that if the trend continues, the population of 50 million could fall by half within 60 years.
