South Korea’s military shrinks by 20% as low birthrate hits recruitment
World’s lowest fertility rate leaves Seoul 50,000 troops short of maintaining defence readiness, report warnsSouth Korea’s military has shrunk by 20% in the past six years, largely due to a sharp decrease in the population of men of enlistment age for mandatory service in the country with the...
<p>World’s lowest fertility rate leaves Seoul 50,000 troops short of maintaining defence readiness, report warns</p><p>South Korea’s military has shrunk by 20% in the past six years, largely due to a sharp decrease in the population of men of enlistment age for mandatory service in the country with the world’s lowest birthrate, according to a report.</p><p>The sharp decline in the pool of men available for military service is also causing a shortfall in the number of officers and could result in operational difficulties, the defence ministry said in the report.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/10/south-korea-military-shrinks-by-20-per-cent-as-low-birthrate-hits-recruitment">Continue reading...</a>
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