South Korea is set to train 500,000 drone warriors as Seoul enhances its defenses against North Korea

South Korea is preparing to train 500,000 drone warriors and deploy thousands of systems in response to threats from North Korea.

South Korea is set to swiftly enhance its drone and counter-drone capabilities in response to North Korea. This initiative includes the training of 500,000 “drone warriors” and the deployment of tens of thousands of unmanned systems to frontline units, as announced by the defense ministry on Friday.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced that the military’s original plan was to produce 110,000 drones by 2029 for use across the army, navy, air force, and marines. However, the ministry has revised the target to around 60,000 units, with an expected introduction of approximately 11,000 in 2026.

The ministry announced the distribution of the systems across military services, with the goal of establishing drones as standard equipment for individual soldiers.

“Drones should no longer be equipment used by a limited number of units but rather a universal combat tool,” Ahn stated during a briefing, emphasizing that they should be utilized by troops as if they were a “second personal weapon.”

Ahn stated that Seoul would depend solely on components produced domestically instead of utilizing Chinese parts for the construction of the systems, referencing security concerns.

The announcement comes as both Koreas intensify their efforts to enhance drone capabilities, drawing inspiration from the transformative impact of unmanned systems on the battlefield in Ukraine and the Middle East.

“Low-cost drones operated in large numbers are fundamentally changing the nature of warfare,” Ahn stated, cautioning that North Korea was also progressing in unmanned systems, heightening threats to military and civilian facilities in the South.

South Korea intends to enhance its counter-drone capabilities with the introduction of lasers and high-power microwave weapons. Additionally, the country is restructuring its operations to enable each military branch to carry out surveillance and strike missions autonomously, rather than depending on a centralized command.

A senior defense official stated that the military would swiftly proceed to acquire over 20,000 low-cost expendable drones and implement AI-based swarm systems and loitering munitions.

The ministry announced plans to overhaul procurement regulations to accelerate the integration of civilian technology and establish the military as a significant purchaser, aiming to foster the development of a domestic drone ecosystem.

The expansion occurs in a context of political sensitivity regarding drone operations from the previous administration. A South Korean court this month sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison for a military drone incursion into North Korea, which prosecutors claimed was intended to justify his bid for martial law in 2024.

The government of President Lee Jae Myung dismantled the drone operations command in response to the allegations. The plans announced on Friday aim to establish a new organization that will concentrate on policy, capability development, and support, while operational responsibilities will be delegated to individual military units.

South Korea is encountering challenges due to a decline in demographics, prompting the military to increasingly depend on automation and unmanned systems to maintain its combat capabilities.