Lee vows stronger deterrence, selective conscription reform during visit to front-line Marine unit

President Lee Jae Myung stressed the importance of a powerful deterrent capable of conquering enemies as he visited a front-line Marine Corps unit on Wednesday, the eve of the 1950-53 Korean War anniversary.

Lee further pledged to introduce a selective conscription system and modernize the military as he spoke to Marines serving in the Yeonpyeong Unit on Incheon’s Yeonpyeong Island, near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border with North Korea in the Yellow Sea.

“There are three stages to national security,” Lee said. “Winning by fighting and winning without fighting are important, but what is far more important is making it unnecessary to fight. That is peace. Peace is the most solid foundation of security."

However, Lee stressed that “peace must be based on a powerful deterrent capable of overwhelming the enemy.”

He outlined plans to “reorganize the South Korean military into a future-oriented force and strengthen its capabilities so that it can be reborn as a powerful military worthy of being proud of and presented to the world."

Lee also promised to implement a selective military conscription system, “allowing soldiers to choose to become professional officers who receive sufficient pay within the budgetary limits, or to opt for short-term conscription if they do not want that."

He said that if such a voluntary recruitment system is adopted, there will be specialized professions that can make their experiences useful even after they leave the military.

All able-bodied Korean men are required to serve in the military for at least 18 months. Under the proposed selective conscription system, eligible conscripts will be allowed to choose between short-term mandatory conscription and longer-term non-commissioned officer roles focused on technology-intensive combat. This comes as the military faces personnel shortages due to a rapidly aging population and a shift in future warfare trends.

“Going forward, our military must also rearm itself with advanced science and technology,” Lee said.

He stressed that troops must be “reborn as professional soldiers and officers capable of operating advanced weapon systems," promising to transform the military system so that the time spent in the military isn't wasted, and so that soldiers can fully demonstrate their skills even after leaving the military.

Lee also reiterated his commitment to fulfilling the pledge to reorganize the military into a quasi-four-branch system by making the Marine Corps independent of the current three-branch system comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force.

This marks the first visit by a president to the Yeonpyeong Unit in 14 years. Then-President Lee Myung-bak last visited in 2012.

During the visit, Lee inspected firepower equipment deployed at the Yeonpyeong Unit, including K-9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo rocket launchers.

After hearing a briefing on the performance of K1E1 tanks manufactured by Hyundai Rotem and Spike precision-guided missiles, Lee inquired whether these weapons were used exclusively by the Marine Corps or whether the Army also used them, and expressed interest in their defense export potential, the Blue House said.

Lee boarded a K9A1 self-propelled howitzer, produced by Hanwha Aerospace and enjoying popularity in the global defense market, to inspect the equipment's performance.

Donning a Marine Corps uniform, paired with a helmet and bulletproof vest, Lee also tried his hand at marksmanship. During a K2 rifle live-fire exercise, Lee hit the target with all 10 shots and joked to Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back to join him.

During a field inspection of the Yeonpyeong Peace Observatory, which overlooks the maritime border, Lee was briefed on illegal fishing by Chinese vessels that had crossed into the NLL and ordered countermeasures to be devised.

“We must prevent Chinese vessels, that are not even North Korean ships, from coming to the NLL boundary area and causing disputes,” Lee told aides.

The president had lunch with troops in the unit’s cafeteria, which featured dishes such as bulgogi (braised marinated beef). He then expressed his gratitude to the front-line soldiers for their sacrifices and dedication.

The Marine Corps visit reflects Lee’s determination to “encourage the unit members who are working day and night tirelessly to fulfill their duty of national defense in the most challenging environments,” presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a statement.

Lee continues to mark the 76^th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War in a week focused on national security and honoring troops and veterans.

On Thursday, Lee will hold a banquet Thursday for Korean War veterans and their families to commemorate those who died in the war, marking the 76th anniversary of the start of the war.

On Friday, Lee is scheduled to preside over a meeting to discuss new defense innovation strategies through growing future-oriented security companies. 

BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]