South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with military commanders held at the defense ministry in Seoul on Friday. Photo by Yonhap
President Lee Jae Myung said Friday South Korea will swiftly take steps for its planned retaking of wartime operational control of its military from the United States and speed up military reforms, including selective conscription.
Lee made the remarks during a meeting with top military brass at the defense ministry in Seoul, where he called on the armed forces to step up their readiness posture to cope with a “grave” security situation amid a prolonged war in the Middle East and movements by North Korea to install iron fences inside the northern side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
“Self-reliant defense capability is essential to respond to the rapidly changing security environment,” Lee said. “The retaking of wartime operational control will be swiftly pursued.”
Lee has placed renewed emphasis on regaining operational control as part of broader efforts to strengthen self-reliant defense amid North Korea’s advancing military capabilities and growing geopolitical uncertainties, while Washington calls for allies to assume a greater share of defense responsibilities.
The transition hinges on South Korea’s ability to lead combined forces, secure advanced strike and missile defense capabilities, and operate in a regional security environment deemed stable enough for the handover. These conditions were assessed during the annual Freedom Shield exercise conducted between the allies earlier this month.
Lee called for the military’s firm readiness, noting that North Korea has begun work to reinforce its border along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas.
Since April last year, North Korean troops have been seen installing barbed wire fences and anti-tank barriers near the MDL — a move seen as aimed at fortifying the border with the South.
“The military’s top priority is to maintain the highest level of readiness to respond to any provocation or threat,” Lee said. “(I) urge the military to maintain a robust combined defense posture based on the Korea-U.S. alliance.”
As the nature of warfare has evolved rapidly, Lee urged the armed forces to speed up reform efforts to prepare for the future battlefield, including introducing a selective conscription system.
The proposed system would retain South Korea’s mandatory military service — which requires all able-bodied men to serve between 18 and 21 months — while allowing draftees to choose between standard service and specialized, technology-driven roles.
The model is aimed at addressing declining recruitment and better aligning manpower with increasingly sophisticated military needs.
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