South Korea’s military shrinks 20% in six years, faces 50,000-troop shortage amid record-low birth rate

South Korea’s active-duty military has shrunk by 20% over the past six years to 450,000 troops, a defence ministry report revealed. The decline, driven by the world’s lowest birth rate and a shrinking pool of eligible males for mandatory service, has left the armed forces 50,000 troops short of optimal readiness

South Korea’s military shrinks 20% in six years, faces 50,000-troop shortage amid record-low birth rate
South Korea’s active-duty military has shrunk by 20% over the past six years to 450,000 troops, a defence ministry report revealed. The decline, driven by the world’s lowest birth rate and a shrinking pool of eligible males for mandatory service, has left the armed forces 50,000 troops short of optimal readiness