Advocating for Strengthening National Defense with a Five-Branch Military System
"The quality of soldiers, not their number, determines military strength"
Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, who has hinted at running in the 21st presidential election, advocated for military reform by stating that "the volunteer military system should be expanded and the military bonus point system should be reinstated."
On the 9th, Mayor Hong stated on Facebook, "We should integrate the Marine Corps and Special Forces to create a 'Marine Special Forces' to counter North Korea's Special 8th Corps and establish the 'Republic of Korea Space Command' to secure overwhelming electronic warfare superiority."
He argued that the existing three-branch military system of the Army, Navy, and Air Force should be strengthened into a five-branch system by creating the Marine Special Forces and the Republic of Korea Space Command. He emphasized, "Modern warfare is determined not by the number of soldiers but by the quality of soldiers."
Mayor Hong also advocated for a significant expansion of the volunteer military system to greatly increase the number of male and female professional soldiers, thereby reducing the burden of conscription. He further stated that the military bonus point system should be reinstated.
He added, "Ultimately, we will have no choice but to base our military on the volunteer system," and said, "Military modernization focused on the welfare of soldiers should now focus on modernizing equipment, improving welfare for career soldiers, and strengthening military combat power as part of military reform."
Meanwhile, Mayor Hong published his book titled The Seventh Republic: Opening the Era of an Advanced Nation on the same day. His office explained that the book contains the nation's future vision, governance philosophy, constitutional reform, and other national agenda items.
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