The People Power Party pledged to reintroduce the military service points system and to raise the treatment of junior military officers to the level of mid-sized companies.
The People Power Party's Policy Coordination Headquarters announced a defense pledge containing these contents on the 25th.
The People Power Party also implemented the military service points system, which had been abolished due to a constitutional court ruling against gender discrimination, introducing it regardless of gender. It also stated that it would expand opportunities for women in specialized fields by introducing the Women's Hope Service System (female professional military personnel system).
The People Power Party also stated that it would significantly increase the budget related to treatment, including duty pay, training meals, housing improvement costs, and relocation expenses for junior officers. Along with this, it noted that it would provide high interest rates and tax-exempt interest income benefits, while expanding the Tomorrow Preparation Savings account, which was previously available only to soldiers, to include junior officers. It also mentioned improvements to the non-commissioned officer system to broaden the pathways for non-commissioned officers to become commissioned officers. The party plans to designate additional autonomous public high schools in areas densely populated by military personnel to improve the educational environment and conditions for the children of military personnel and government employees.
Regarding soldier welfare, it was stated that the barracks would be improved and meal costs increased, while introducing a national responsibility system where the government takes responsibility for accidents occurring during military service. It also mentioned the intention to include military personnel in the Military Welfare Basic Act and to legislate it as the National Military Welfare Basic Act. The pledge also included an expansion of legal support for soldiers and junior officers with an increase in the number of legal officers.
The People Power Party plans to introduce programs that allow military experience to be utilized in the civilian sector, providing tax benefits to corporations that recognize military service experience. It will also support employment incentives. The party intends to enhance specialized training opportunities in drone, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and electronic warfare technologies during military service, as well as broaden support for academic credit recognition and professional certification acquisition during service.
In relation to the amendments, regarding the National Security Law that has been clashing with the Democratic Party of Korea, it announced plans to broaden the scope of the law, previously limited to North Korea, to include all foreign forces for 'national security or national interest invasion purposes,' and to expand the legal sanctions to cover 'white spies' and 'gray spies' disguised as academic, cultural, and economic exchanges. To address legal blind spots regarding international industrial espionage and cases of advanced technology leakage to foreign countries, it stated that technological espionage acts would also be explicitly defined as espionage acts, while establishing an organization dedicated to the protection of national core technologies.
The People Power Party stated it would expedite the early establishment of AI-based unmanned and manned hybrid combat systems. To this end, it plans to quickly introduce unmanned and manned hybrid surveillance systems at GOPs, coastlines, and bases.
Regarding the introduction of defense industries and weapons systems, it was stated that the regulations on defense project systems would be boldly relaxed, and procedures would be simplified. This aims to timely operationalize advanced technology weapons systems. The party noted its policy to select 10 core defense technologies and expand the defense research and development budget to participate in joint development of seven technologies within the AUKUS security cooperation framework involving the U.S., U.K., and Australia. To promote arms sales, it aims to establish a Defense Business Secretary within the presidential office as a control tower for arms export strategies under the goal of being 'one of the world’s top four defense exporters.'
The People Power Party also announced plans to entrust non-combat areas of the military, such as perimeter security, supply and transport, and reserve training support, to private military companies (PMCs) in preparation for population decline. It plans to establish and operate a dedicated GOP security unit while professionalizing the standing forces and rationalizing the operation of reserve forces.
The People Power Party also plans to train 10,000 white-hat hackers to significantly enhance cyber warfare capabilities and realize a tailored income security system for national merit holders, while innovating military safety and medical systems. To maintain political neutrality within the military, it intends to civilianize senior positions within the Ministry of National Defense and limit appointments of former military personnel to certain periods when appointing a military-born Minister of National Defense. Additionally, it will establish a National Marine Committee under the presidential office to proactively respond to infringements of maritime sovereignty.