Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, emphasized the development of science and technology in the defense sector on the 17th, mentioning "selective conscription." This entails reducing the number of conscripts while increasing combat non-commissioned officers and civilian personnel, a promise made by this candidate during the last 20th presidential election. It seems to be aimed at the 2030 male demographic, where support for the candidate is weak, following his recent declaration of becoming a "centrist conservative" to broaden his appeal.
◇Reiteration of presidential campaign promise… “Selective conscription”
The candidate visited the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in Daejeon that morning, stating, "While traditional combat is important, I wonder if it is really efficient to confine young people in military barracks." He continued, "If we allow them to serve as specialized non-commissioned officers, we can transform their roles into specialized operators or developers of sophisticated weapons systems, which could become excellent careers."
"Selective conscription" is a system that allows conscription targets to choose between short-term conscription and long-term service, significantly reducing the service period for conscripts. The candidate noted, "We have entered an era where outcomes are determined by weapon systems rather than sheer numbers, as in "human wave tactics." He stated, "At the core of defense lies science and technology.”
Particularly in response to a reporter's question, "Are you considering converting from conscription to selective conscription?" he replied, "As I mentioned in the last presidential election, I think the right approach is to operate selective conscription that combines the advantages of both conscription and voluntary military service.”
He added, "Rather than having hundreds of thousands of young people spend time in repetitive training as in the past, we should allow them to acquire expertise in complex weapon systems or participate in research and development." He emphasized, "It is necessary to ensure that they can transition into those areas after their discharge.”
After meeting with Lee Geon-wan, the director of the ADD, the candidate moved to the robot experimental research building to inspect both manned and unmanned complex system equipment, reiterating the importance of enhancing defense competitiveness. He stated, "Historically, countries that invested in science and technology have prospered, while those that devalued it have perished. It is essential to invest in strengthening our self-defense capabilities, and I hope this can also be allocated to improving our economic power.”
◇“Establishment of a defense industry export control tower, tax credits, expansion of military service exceptions”
Earlier, before visiting the ADD, the candidate announced support promises for the defense industry on Facebook. Specifically, these include the establishment of a defense industry export control tower, regular meetings chaired by the president to promote defense exports, tax credits for research and development (R&D) of defense export companies, and expanding military service exceptions for the defense industry. Specific support scales or tax credit rates were not disclosed.
However, related bills have already been proposed. This candidate's key aide, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho, submitted a revision to the Tax Expenditure Limitation Act in July of last year. The content designates the domestic defense industry as a national strategic technology and provides tax benefits. According to the revision, the current tax credit rate for R&D in the defense sector will be expanded from 20-25% to 30% for large and mid-sized enterprises, and from 30% to 40% for small and medium enterprises.
The candidate also promised to expand military service exceptions for specialized research personnel and industrial function personnel in defense industries. According to the Military Manpower Administration, among the 3,200 industrial function personnel assigned this year, only 44 are in the defense sector. The candidate stated that he would cultivate defense talent to create a strong and intelligent military and activate defense exports.