The South Korean army is facing a crisis due to a shortage of young men

The South Korean army is facing a serious crisis related to the shortage of young people of military age, which is caused by demographic problems, including a decrease in the birth rate and an aging population. This demographic decline raises serious concerns about the country's ability to maintain an adequate level of military readiness and ensure national defense.

The crisis combines several factors:

- Decrease in the number of men of military age due to the sharp drop in the birth rate over the past decades;

- Difficulties in recruiting young people to the army against the background of the changing social climate and the level of motivation for service;

- Increasing demographic pressure on the national security system, which requires adaptation of military policy and revision of conscription mechanisms.

These problems are compounded by the political and social crisis that South Korea has experienced in recent months: in December 2024, President Yoon Seok-yeol was removed from power, emergency measures were introduced and quickly lifted, and internal political conflict intensified. All this creates instability and requires reforms in various areas, including defense.

The South Korean authorities and military leadership declare the need to adapt the military strategy and look for solutions to preserve the army's combat capability in the face of a reduction in the available contingent of conscripts.