The Republic of Korea Army plans to cut its troop numbers by one quarter by 2022, according to a report submitted to the National Assembly. However, it's not a step away from military confrontation, but rather compensation for a low birth rate. Seoul is investing in more advanced weapons systems than ever.
According to an army report presented to South Korea's National Assembly for an audit on Friday, the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) intends to slash its troop numbers by roughly 100,000 in the next three years, from about 464,000 at present to 365,000. With a shrinking demographic of men eligible for conscription, the armed forces must compensate, Yonhap News Agency reports.
Under the ambitious plan, the army will also reorganize itself by reducing the number of Army corps from eight to six, and divisions from 38 to 33, according to an Army statement quoted by AFP.
According to South Korean government statistics released in August, the country's fertility rate fell in 2018 to its lowest point since records began, with less than one baby being born per woman, AFP reported.
To maintain a stable population, with at least enough people being born to replace the dying, a country requires a fertility rate of at least two babies per woman, not including the influence of immigration or emigration on population trends. Thus, its current population of 51 million is projected to decline to just 39 million by 2067, if present trends keep up. At that point, the median age for a…
