Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek said the government will build an AI-powered scientific surveillance system to reduce the number of guard troops at the GOP (General Outpost) from the current 22,000 to approximately 6,000. He also revealed plans to integrate the three military academies of the Army, Navy, and Air Force under a "2+2 system."
At a press briefing with defense reporters on Wednesday, Ahn said, "The 16,000 troops being reduced will be moved to rear areas and deployed to the GOP when situations arise."
The "GOP line" Ahn referred to collectively encompasses GOP troops conducting fence duty along the Southern Limit Line, located 2 kilometers south of the Military Demarcation Line, as well as forward observation post (GP) troops operating within the Demilitarized Zone. The move appears aimed at preemptively withdrawing troops from frontline guard operations amid difficulties in maintaining 500,000 active-duty personnel due to the "troop cliff."
Ahn also unveiled plans to establish an integrated military academy with unified cadet selection. "We are considering a '2+2 system' where first and second-year students take basic liberal arts courses, then move to the Korea Military Academy, Naval Academy, or Air Force Academy for specialized training in their third and fourth years," he explained. Regarding the location of the integrated academy, he said, "The basic principle is to place it in a provincial area."
On President Lee Jae-myung's campaign pledge of "selective conscription," Ahn explained the system would maintain the existing conscription framework while allowing individuals to choose between serving as enlisted soldiers or as non-commissioned officers for four to five years. "We plan to have about 50,000 technology-intensive NCOs who handle cutting-edge weapons, with a system that connects their service to civilian careers after discharge," he added.
Regarding Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, Ahn said, "I understand the United States also has a strong will for this." The Ministry of National Defense plans to hold its first working-level meeting with a U.S. delegation as early as this month.