South Korea Plans Tech-Focused Noncommissioned Officer Track to Raise Career Service Share

South Korea plans to introduce a noncommissioned officer track focused on advanced military technology, the defense ministry said Thursday. The track forms part of efforts to reform the conscription system by increasing voluntary enlistment under the Lee Jae Myung administration.

The "tech-intensive" noncommissioned officers would specialize in manned-unmanned systems, cyber operations and artificial intelligence.

They would serve four to five years unless they elect a longer military career, ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said at a press briefing. "We plan to gradually expand the number of 'tech-intensive' noncommissioned officers in line with efforts to restructure the military with a focus on advanced science and technology," Chung said.

She added that the government is considering ways to broaden service options while maintaining the conscription system and is developing measures to link high-tech military experience to civilian careers after discharge.

Those subject to mandatory service currently may serve as commissioned officers, noncommissioned officers or enlisted personnel. The new track would expand those choices. President Lee Jae Myung visited a Marine Corps unit on Yeonpyeong Island on June 24 and said individuals would be able to choose either to become career service members receiving adequate compensation or to fulfill their mandatory conscription obligation.

The reform plan responds to a declining pool of active-duty recruits amid a demographic cliff. The defense ministry aims to raise the proportion of career service members to 63 percent by 2040 from the current 40 percent and to cut the share of conscripts to 37 percent from 60 percent over the same period.