Low birthrates shrink South Korea's military

Earlier this year, South Korea's Defense Ministry announced a striking new plan: reduce the number of active-duty troops by nearly 100,000 by 2040. But it wasn’t a strategic pivot — it was a demographic necessity.

South Korea now has the world’s lowest fertility rate — just 0.72 children per woman in 2023. That’s less than half the rate needed to maintain a stable population, and it’s already causing ripple effects far beyond kindergartens and maternity wards. One of the hardest-hit sectors? The country’s military.

Since the 1950s, South Korea has relied on a conscription-based defense system, built on the assumption of a steady flow of young men. But by 2025, the number of 20-year-old men eligible for mandatory military service will fall below 250,000 — down from over 350,000 in the early 2000s. That drop is forcing a major rethink of military structure, readiness, and even regional security policy.

The South Korean military is now looking to invest heavily in automation and high-tech warfare, pouring resources into AI systems, unmanned vehicles, and advanced surveillance. But for frontline tasks like guarding the heavily fortified DMZ — a constant threat from North Korea just kilometers away — there’s no easy substitute for boots on the ground.

The shift is already being felt. Some military bases are shutting down. Training programs are consolidating. And roles that once required three soldiers may now be handled by two — or even one.

And it’s not just about national defense. In South Korea’s tightly woven social fabric, military service has long been a rite of passage for men — a shared experience that bonds classmates and coworkers. As conscription becomes harder to enforce, and exemptions rise, the societal implications could be just as far-reaching.

But this isn’t just a story about declining birthrates or military budgets. At its core, it’s about how aging, fertility, and shifting family dynamics are forcing one of Asia’s most technologically advanced nations to confront the limits of its current systems — and imagine radically new ones.

In a region marked by geopolitical tensions, South Korea’s shrinking barracks could have consequences well beyond its borders.

This story was originally published on https://www.dw.com/ and is republished here with permission.