SEOUL, 27 March (Reuters) – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said this Friday that the country will seek to regain operational control in times of war, currently in US hands, as soon as possible, highlighting the need for greater military self-sufficiency.
In a meeting with military leaders at the Ministry of Defense, Lee also stated that the government will pursue military reforms, such as implementing selective recruitment, to better reflect demographic and security realities.
Lee cited wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as tension on the Korean peninsula, saying the military’s main responsibility was to remain ready to respond to provocations from North Korea.
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“The unshakable alliance between South Korea and the US is an essential pillar for peace and stability on the peninsula, but excessive dependence is not desirable,” he said.
‘The transfer of wartime operational control will be accomplished quickly.’
Currently, the US would command allied troops in the event of war on the Korean peninsula, but successive South Korean governments have sought to regain control of operations in times of war.
Lee’s government has signaled that it intends to complete the process during its term, which runs until 2030, as soon as South Korea meets a set of military capability conditions agreed with the US.
He further stated that South Korea’s military must be prepared to take a leading role in defending the peninsula, citing a shift towards a ‘smarter and stronger army’ equipped to deal with future battlefields shaped by advanced technology.
The armed forces are largely made up of conscripts, with most men required to serve for around 18 months. This reflects the situation of the country, which is formally still at war with North Korea, in the absence of a peace treaty after the 1953 armistice.
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Selective conscription was a recurring theme in Lee’s presidential campaigns, during which he promised to maintain mandatory service but allow eligible draftees to opt for voluntary service or alternative paths, and to adjust terms of service to deal with the reduction in South Korea’s military strength caused by demographic changes.
