Lee: "Military service should be a time to learn advanced technology"; reviewing overhaul of military system

Financial News reported that on the 5th, President Lee Jae-myung said he is reviewing both an expansion of alternative military service and a restructuring of the military system to ease the conscription burden on male science and technology talent. He also proposed turning military service from a period of disruption into a time for learning advanced weapons systems, equipment, and technologies.
At the "Dialogue with Future Scientists" event held at the state guesthouse of the presidential office, President Lee explained the background of the review, saying, "For young men, it is inevitable that fulfilling their duty of national defense under the same conditions creates a considerable gap in their careers, which can become a source of various conflicts and may understandably feel unfair."
When one student suggested that it would be good to have opportunities to gain research experience even during military service, President Lee responded, "There are already quite a few alternative service positions in science and technology, but you are suggesting we expand them, right?" In reply, Ha Jung-woo, Senior Presidential Secretary for AI Future Planning, said, "We are actually in talks with the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), and the Minister of National Defense is also open-minded, so we will finalize the plan and announce it separately." President Lee added, "We are in the process of reviewing an expansion."
Beyond the discussion on alternative service, President Lee stated, "In addition to that, I am thinking of fundamentally changing the military itself." He noted, "Until now, our military system has been centered on the number of troops and infantry, but now it has become a full-scale competition in equipment and weapons," and continued, "Because we must shift to a system focused on equipment and weapons systems, the issue with personnel is not numbers but training them as experts."
He went on, "We are reviewing a restructuring of the system so that the time spent serving in the military is not a regrettable period of wasting youth and just passing time, but instead becomes an opportunity to learn advanced weapons systems, equipment, and cutting-edge technologies," adding, "We intend to make it something that can be used as an opportunity." During the discussion, he also suggested, "Rather than only alternative service, it would be interesting to have research units within the military." In response, Ha explained, "We are reviewing the idea of a unit where actual researchers are gathered, conducting experiments as well as implementation and operation."
On the issue of talent leaving for overseas, President Lee said, "This is a very serious matter at the national level," and added, "We are preparing practical policies to bring talent back from abroad." Regarding a more flexible research culture, he noted, "We are also pushing the capitalization of failures as a key task," and said, "People in the field are skeptical, thinking it might end up as just words, but this time will be different. Research and development projects will be carried out in a direction different from the past."
He also delivered a message on fostering regional talent. When a student from the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH) in Naju, South Jeolla Province, requested that the government help ensure that outstanding talent can emerge from the regions, President Lee replied, "We truly need creative and original talent. You will achieve great success in the future," expressing his commitment to supporting regional universities and research and talent development.
The event was hosted by science YouTuber Orbit and attended by 205 university and graduate students selected as Presidential Science Scholarship recipients, as well as 35 middle and high school students who won medals at international Olympiads.
west@fnnews.com Seong Seok-woo Reporter