Approximately 40% of the surface ships operated by the South Korean Navy have exceeded their 25-year service life, raising concerns about aging vessels and the urgent need for modernization to bolster combat capabilities.
According to data on "the status of weapons systems exceeding service life held by the Navy" submitted by the Ministry of National Defense to Rep. Kang Sun-young of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, around 50 of the Navy's roughly 130 surface ships are aging vessels that have exceeded their service life, the lawmaker's office said on the 29th.
By category, more than 30 are combat ships, fewer than 10 are mine warfare ships, fewer than five are amphibious ships, and fewer than five are support ships. Among them, the mine hunter ship Ganggyeong, a mine warfare vessel, was commissioned in 1986 and is now 40 years old, making it the oldest vessel in the Navy's fleet.
The proportion of aging vessels deployed and operationalized within each ship category ranges from as low as 20% to as high as 100%, underscoring the urgent need for fleet modernization.
According to the 2022 Defense White Paper, the Navy operates around 90 combat ships, more than 10 mine warfare ships, more than 10 amphibious ships, and more than 20 support ships. As a result, roughly 30% of operational combat ships, 100% of mine warfare ships, 50% of amphibious ships, and 20% of support ships are being run as aging vessels.
"In modern warfare, naval power is a key element that determines the course of war in terms of controlling sea lanes, long-range strikes, intelligence and electronic warfare, and combined maritime operations," Rep. Kang said. "While our Navy is deploying the latest Aegis destroyers and other advanced platforms, 40% of surface ships, including core combat vessels, are aging, which could weaken our combat capabilities. Modernization must be pursued urgently."
Submarines, classified as core strategic assets of the Navy, are also showing serious signs of aging. Of the more than 20 submarines in service, seven are old vessels that have exceeded the 25-year service life.
The Navy operates a total of 20 submarines as strategic assets. These include the 1,200-ton Chang Bogo-class (Type 209, eight units), the 1,800-ton Son Won-il-class (Type 214, nine units), the 3,000-ton Korean-built Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class (three units), and the latest 3,600-ton Jang Yeong-sil-class (one unit), which is regarded as the most powerful among existing conventional submarines.
"The Navy maintains rated performance through detailed inspections and maintenance, including by the Inspection and Survey Board (INSURV), for vessels that have exceeded their service life, and ensures there are no issues in operational use," a Navy official said.
