President Lee Jae-myung said the "subservient mindset in some quarters that thinks independent defense is impossible without foreign troops" and noted that "powerful, autonomous independent defense is our most important task at this time."
On the 21st, Lee posted on Facebook an article titled "We will open the path to strong independent defense," saying, "The Republic of Korea's military must be reorganized not as a past-style army relying on human-wave tactics based on troop numbers, but as a capable and specialized smart elite strong force armed with manned-unmanned combined systems," and made these remarks.
That day, Lee shared on Facebook a news article pointing out the reality that conscription resources are rapidly shrinking due to the demographic cliff, emphasizing, "With 50 troops equipped with advanced manned-unmanned combined weapons systems such as AI combat robots that freely detect, decide, aim, and fire, armed autonomous drones, and ultra-precise offensive and defensive missiles, they can handle not 100 but any number of enemies in the thousands and tens of thousands."
Lee said, "The armed forces have fewer standing troops than North Korea, but there are 2.6 million reserve forces who have completed military service, are still training, and can be投入 into combat immediately," adding, "Our annual defense budget is about 1.4 times North Korea's gross national product, we boast the world's No. 5 military strength, our economic power is dozens of times that of North Korea, and our population is more than double."
Lee added, "The population issue is serious, and it is true that we currently lack manpower resources, but there is no need to worry about our defense capability based solely on comparisons of the absolute number of standing troops," and "We will build a country that is never invaded again and does not depend on others."
He then stressed independent defense. He said, "Even with such military strength, defense capability, and national power, there is a subservient mindset in some quarters that thinks independent defense is impossible without foreign troops," and "We must not be drawn into external military conflicts, and our security must not be threatened. Powerful, autonomous independent defense is our most important task at this time."
He said, "I am reminded of President Roh Moo-hyun, who, even using the excessive term 'ddongbyeol,' criticized the perception that a country that spends so much on defense cannot defend itself without foreign troops," adding, "Through strong defense reform, we will swiftly establish a complete independent defense posture so that the public does not worry."