Defense White Paper Too Complex for Public, Experts Warn

A recent analysis of South Korea's "Defense White Paper" has revealed a significant communication gap, with experts arguing that the document's complex language renders it largely inaccessible to the average citizen. The paper, intended to officially communicate national defense and security policies to the public, instead demands a reading level typically associated with university graduates, according to research by Bang Jeong-bae of Korea National Open University and Park Kyun-yeol of Gyeongsang National University.

“

The Defense White Paper requires a reading level equivalent to that of a university graduate.

This high level of linguistic complexity, characterized by the frequent use of specialized military jargon, foreign abbreviations, and lengthy sentences, undermines the paper's crucial role as a conduit between policy and the populace. In democratic nations, where defense policies often involve substantial financial commitments and civic duties like conscription, clear and accessible public communication is paramount. The current "Defense White Paper" falls short of this standard, appearing more as an internal report for specialists rather than a public information document.

“

Terms like 'patrol activities' and 'power projection' are not even registered in the standard Korean dictionary and are difficult for experts to understand without detailed explanations.

The researchers propose a significant overhaul of the document's structure and language. Suggestions include minimizing the use of jargon and long sentences, and expanding the use of explanatory footnotes and supplementary materials, similar to practices in countries like Japan. The goal is to transform the "Defense White Paper" from an academic treatise into a truly public document that fosters understanding and support for national defense policies. Without such changes, the paper risks becoming an irrelevant report, failing its fundamental purpose of informing and engaging the South Korean public.

“

The average sentence in each chapter of the Defense White Paper contains an average of 79.47 characters and 21.12 words, which is higher than the average characters in political (70.02) and social (61.51) news articles in Korean newspapers.