South Korea's Military Shrinks by 20% Amid Declining Male Population
By
eagleislandsong
More flour than flavour. There's a bagel in here, just not much of one.
Summary
South Korea's military has experienced a 20% reduction in troop numbers over the past six years, now standing at 450,000, primarily due to a declining male population eligible for mandatory service. This trend, driven by the country's record-low birthrate, is also causing a shortage of officers and potential operational challenges, as highlighted in a defense ministry report.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledSouth Korea's military shrank by 20 per cent in the past six years to 450,000 troops, largely due to a sharp drop in the population of males of enlistment age for mandatory service.
The dramatic decline in the pool of available males for military service is also causing a shortfall in the number of officers and could result in operational difficulty if it continues.
The report was made to the ruling Democratic Party member of parliament Choo Mi-ae, whose office raised concerns about the implications of the demographic shift.
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