Lee Jun-suk, the presidential candidate of the Reform Party, unveiled a pledge on the 30th to reduce the service period of non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers to a minimum of two years and to fully support college tuition for the duration of service.
The Lee Jun-suk election campaign committee announced that it would integrate basic military training (four weeks) for soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers, and would provide opportunities for non-commissioned officer and officer candidacy to those who excel in training, conducting four months of officer candidate education.
It also promised to waive college tuition for a total of two years of service, providing incentives for entry-level officers.
This is intended to enhance the role of entry-level officers to maintain combat efficiency in a situation where the overall military force is decreasing due to low birth rates and reduced service periods. The plan aims to sustain defense capabilities by providing exceptional incentives for military personnel.
In fact, the number of active military personnel, which was 560,000 in 2019, has decreased to 470,000 in 2023. The number of universities operating Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) that are below capacity increased significantly from three (2%) in 2020 to 81 (75%) in 2023.
This reform plan is said to benchmark the system in Singapore, where all enlistees undergo nine weeks of basic training, and among those who complete the training, non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers are selected.
A member of the campaign committee noted, "It is true that the improvement in the pay level of regular soldiers has significantly decreased the incentive for officers to serve," adding, "The clear goal of the Lee Jun-suk government is to improve the quality of officer personnel and systematize their training while modernizing the military to maintain a strong security posture."