Global Firepower (GFP), a U.S.-based military assessment site, has released annual rankings of major nations' military strength since 2005. South Korea ranked 12th in 2010 but jumped to 7th just a year later. After some fluctuations, the country has maintained 5th place since 2024. The problem is that GFP evaluates national military capabilities excluding nuclear weapons. Asymmetric capabilities such as drones and cyber warfare, which are rapidly emerging as core assets of modern warfare, are also not subject to comparison. Rankings are based solely on conventional military power. Against North Korea, China and Russia, which possess nuclear arsenals and have dramatically expanded their drone and hacking capabilities, South Korea's 5th-place ranking in conventional military strength is close to an illusion.
The ongoing conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine immediately demonstrate how meaningless GFP's rankings are. The United States, ranked 1st by GFP, has been unable to settle the score with Iran, ranked 16th, for over two months. Russia, ranked 2nd, invaded Ukraine, ranked 20th, and has been mired in the conflict for four years. This is because modern warfare has evolved beyond simple conventional warfare into complex and asymmetric warfare. There are also many other variables that determine the course of war, including support from allies and friendly nations, geopolitical characteristics, economic strength and the unity of the people of the nations involved.
At a recent cabinet meeting, President Lee Jae-myung reminded attendees that South Korea's military strength ranks 5th in the world and said, "So why do we keep feeling anxious, as if we couldn't defend ourselves without foreign troops?" The remarks appear aimed at allaying public concerns about security. However, fragmentary comparisons of military rankings carry little weight in actual combat. North Korea is ranked 31st by GFP, yet it is expanding not only its nuclear weapons but also its drones and conventional arms. Through the Ukraine war, it has gained experience in advanced complex warfare and is solidifying ties among North Korea, China and Russia. Meanwhile, South Korea has been shaking up the organization of its Drone Operations Command and, following disputes over joint exercises with U.S. forces, has seen disruptions in military intelligence sharing. Strengthening genuine self-defense capabilities to firmly establish the military's combat readiness and reinforcing the South Korea-U.S. alliance are the shortest path to resolving security concerns.
