South Korea to Train 500,000 Drone Warriors, Exclude Chinese Parts

South Korea is set to dramatically bolster its drone and counter-drone capabilities in response to North Korean threats and a declining birthrate. The Ministry of National Defense announced Friday a sweeping plan to train 500,000 'drone warriors' and deploy tens of thousands of drone systems to front-line units, aiming to integrate drones as a 'second personal weapon' for every soldier.

Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek highlighted that low-cost, high-volume drones are fundamentally altering warfare, moving beyond specialized units to become standard issue. The military plans to accelerate the adoption of civilian technology, aiming to introduce approximately 11,000 drones by 2026 and scaling up to about 60,000 units across all branches by 2029. This expansion is inspired by recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which have spurred both Koreas to enhance their drone capabilities.

In addition to acquiring over 20,000 low-cost, single-use drones and introducing AI swarm systems and loitering munitions, South Korea is intensifying research into counter-drone technologies like lasers and high-power microwave weapons. The new plan also establishes a new agency focused on policy, technology development, and support, while operational control will be decentralized to individual military units. Notably, all future drone manufacturing will be localized, completely removing Chinese-made components due to national security concerns.

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Drones, which are low-cost and large in quantity, are fundamentally changing the nature of war. Drones are no longer exclusive equipment for a few special units, but should become the 'second personal weapon' for every soldier.