Jang Hojin, Director of National Security Office, "Double the Number of Drones by 2026"

Defense Innovation Committee, North Korean Drone Response
5% Increase in Budget for Weapon Performance Improvement

Jang Ho-jin, Director of the National Security Office
Photo by Yonhap News

Jang Ho-jin, Director of the National Security Office, chaired the 4th meeting of the Defense Innovation Committee at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the morning of the 2nd, announcing plans to secure more than twice the current number of drones by 2026 to counter North Korea's unmanned aerial vehicle threats. The budget for weapon system performance improvement, currently at about 1% of the defense capability enhancement fund, will also be significantly expanded to around 5%.

To strengthen drone capabilities, the government plans to diversify acquisition methods by activating rapid acquisition of domestic commercial drones and accelerating the deployment of research and development drones, while increasing budget investment to quickly secure a large number of drones. By securing more than twice the current number of drones by 2026, the government aims to dramatically enhance preparedness against North Korea's unmanned aerial threats.

Additionally, the government will actively identify and promptly address operational improvement needs for weapon systems deployed in the military to strengthen combat readiness. The budget for weapon system performance improvement, currently about 1% of the defense capability enhancement fund, will be significantly increased to around 5%.

Building on the improvements in treatment such as allowance increases and housing environment enhancements pursued so far, the government will also actively improve the working conditions for soldiers in frontline units known as 'Changkkeut Units,' which face the enemy directly. In particular, to increase support rates for junior officers, the government will boldly reform 'unit operation practices and systems' and improve the mission conditions for mid-level combat commanders.

The meeting was attended by civilian members including Kim Kwan-jin, Vice Chairman of the Defense Innovation Committee, and government members including Jang Ho-jin, Director of the National Security Office. Key officials such as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Administrator of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Director of R&D Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, Director of SME Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Defense Budget Review Officer at the Ministry of Economy and Finance participated. From the Presidential Office, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Deputy Directors of the National Security Office and the Defense Secretary were also present.