Decreasing Military Service Resources Again This Year... Any Countermeasures? [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Extension of Terms and Bonus Payments for Australian Navy Veterans
Various Proposals Including Review of Private Military Company Business

Australia's Department of Defense took unprecedented measures last year to address military manpower shortages. It announced a 'Defense Personnel Plan' that expands cash bonuses for soldiers who extend their service terms. To support this, the Australian government decided to increase defense personnel expenses by AUD 600 million (approximately KRW 550 billion) annually. The increased funds are used to provide a lump-sum bonus of AUD 50,000 (about KRW 45 million) to junior soldiers who extend their mandatory four-year service by an additional three years. Soldiers who have served 7 to 9 years and extend their terms again also receive a lump-sum bonus. As a result of the implementation, about 80% of eligible junior soldiers, totaling 3,100 personnel, chose to extend their service instead of discharge. This system is set to continue until June 2028.

Yonhap News

The manpower shortage is not unique to Australia. South Korea, which faces the reality of national division, is in a similar situation. According to a report titled 'Defense Policy Directions in the Era of Declining Military Manpower' released by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), the active duty strength of the South Korean military stood at 480,000 at the end of 2022, breaking the 500,000 mark. KIDA also projected a sharp decline to 330,000 by 2043.

Consideration of Veterans' Association Private Military Company Business

Various proposals have emerged due to the shortage of military manpower. In July last year, the Republic of Korea Veterans Association (hereafter Hyanggun) announced it would consider a private military company (PMC) business to provide jobs for retired soldiers. A PMC refers to a company contracted by the government to perform military missions. Many people recall Russia's Wagner Group, which has been undertaking combat missions in the Ukraine war. However, under international law, only uniformed regular forces can engage in combat, so there is widespread opinion that legitimate PMCs cannot perform combat missions. The U.S. government also increased PMC utilization during the Iraq War, delegating various tasks such as logistics, engineering, transportation, training, education, and military advisory missions.

At a meeting last year, Hyanggun Chairman Shin Sang-tae stated, "The military is replacing insufficient personnel with civilian employees, but non-combat areas such as logistics require measures like civilian outsourcing," adding, "Participation in defense support projects aligns with Hyanggun's founding purpose of creating jobs for veterans," suggesting an entry into non-combat sectors. He further said, "Entering defense support projects is a business justified by the cause of national security," and expressed expectations that it would "contribute to the advancement of defense systems and support jobs for retired soldiers."

Parliamentary Movements Including Use of Reserve Border Guards

There are also movements in the National Assembly. Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party, revealed that he is considering the '5060 Military Border Guard Bill.' Appearing on a radio broadcast, Seong said, "In the era of a population cliff, not only the military but all national systems must be reset," expressing this view. As the chairman of the National Defense Committee, Seong recently said, "There are no young soldiers," and "The 50s and 60s generations are healthy. I think they can serve as border guards in the military," indicating he is contemplating such legislation.

When asked if this is similar to a mercenary system, Seong replied, "Yes," adding, "Some tasks are outsourced to civilians, and contract workers like civilian employees work in the military. It could be possible in that form." He continued, "Currently, even the U.S. Forces Korea outsource perimeter security to civilians," and said, "Transferring MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) and PMC (Private Military Company) functions to the private sector is common among the U.S. military and others."

There is also a civic group of elderly citizens who voluntarily gather to enlist. This is the Senior Army. Launched in June 2013, Senior Army is a purely civilian organization that recruits and trains personnel regardless of age or gender with the goal of participating in national crises. Some members have trained at the Seoul metropolitan area defense division, but last year, for the first time, simultaneous training was conducted nationwide.

In fact, the perimeter security and access control of the Humphreys U.S. Army Garrison in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, which covers an area of 14.77 km², are contracted to a domestic private company by the U.S. government. Most personnel deployed are known to be over 50 years old. Armed private company personnel stand guard, and in emergencies, the U.S. military's border units, conceptually similar to South Korea's '5-minute standby units,' respond.

Many Challenges Remain, Including Suitability of Civic Group Participation

However, there are challenges to resolve. Senior Army uniforms are sold by 'Gunsangongjehoe Mplus F&C,' a subsidiary of the Military Mutual Aid Association. Some have raised controversy that the design resembles that of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. In response, Senior Army stated on their website, "There were cases where the ordered uniform sizes differed from the actual uniforms, with sewing errors causing sleeves to be unwearable or the Taegeukgi (Korean flag) being incorrectly positioned," and added, "Baseless accusations that Senior Army uniforms resemble those of other countries' militaries have been raised, which is evidence that Senior Army is emerging as an influential organization."

There are also criticisms regarding fairness in allowing civic groups to use military facilities. In November last year, Senior Army conducted training including forest combat, urban combat, and video simulation shooting at the Army's 2nd Corps Chuncheon Science Reserve Forces Training Center in Gangwon Province. According to current reserve forces organization and operation training regulations, any Korean citizen aged 18 or older, or minors with parental or guardian consent, can become a reservist. There is controversy over whether general organizations like Senior Army, which are not legally recognized reservists, should use defense funds and military facilities.

Moon Hyung-chul, a researcher at the Special Ground Operations Research Association, said, "If it is voluntary reserve support, service can be performed through the volunteer reserve system, but it is very concerning that the military authorities support private organizations proposed by incorporated associations," adding, "It could violate military property management regulations, and demands from civilian groups could become excessively high."