US: Asian Allies Including South Korea Should Raise Defense Spending to '5% of GDP'

U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson
Calls for South Korea to raise defense spending from 2.8% of GDP

On June 19 (local time), the U.S. Department of Defense stated that its Asian allies, including South Korea, should increase their defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP).

Reuters Yonhap News

Sean Parnell, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, said on the same day, "Our European allies are setting a global standard for our alliances, especially our Asian allies," adding, "That standard is to spend 5% of GDP on defense."

Last year, South Korea spent approximately 66 trillion won on defense, which amounts to 2.8% of its GDP. The Donald Trump administration is expected to demand that South Korea increase its defense spending to 5% of GDP in the future.

Previously, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of Defense's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, held the previous day, "NATO's pledge to increase defense spending is a new standard that all allies, including those in Asia, should follow." The United States is set to call on NATO member states to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP at the NATO summit scheduled for June 24-25.