South Korean Army Downsized by 20% in Six Years Amid Worsening Birthrate Crisis

SEOUL, Aug 10 — South Korea’s military has shrunk by 20 per cent over the past six years to 450,000 troops, driven largely by a steep drop in the number of males eligible for mandatory service, according to a report released Sunday. The country currently has the world’s lowest birthrate.

The Defence Ministry report, submitted to Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae and later made public by her office, warned that the shrinking pool of conscripts is also leading to a shortage of officers — a situation that could create operational challenges if the trend continues.

South Korea’s armed forces have been steadily downsizing since the early 2000s, when troop numbers stood at about 690,000. The decline accelerated in the late 2010s, with active-duty soldiers and officers falling to around 563,000 by 2019.

In contrast, North Korea is estimated to maintain about 1.2 million active-duty personnel, according to 2022 Defence Ministry figures.

Between 2019 and 2025, the number of 20-year-old males — the typical enlistment age for those who pass physical exams — dropped by 30 per cent to 230,000. South Korea’s mandatory service period, now 18 months, was once as long as 36 months in 1953 after the Korean War armistice.

The military has attributed the reduced service period to enhanced capabilities, supported by its alliance with the United States and a growing defence industry that has become a major arms exporter.

For 2025, South Korea’s defence budget exceeds 61 trillion won (US$43.9 billion) — larger than North Korea’s estimated entire economy. Yet, the armed forces still face a manpower gap of 50,000, including a shortfall of about 21,000 non-commissioned officers.

South Korea is among the fastest-ageing societies in the world, with its fertility rate hitting a record low of 0.75 in 2024 — the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. The country’s population, which peaked at 51.8 million in 2020, is projected to fall to 36.2 million by 2072, government forecasts show. — Reuters