South Korea Trains Half a Million Drone Soldiers

South Korea's Ambitious Drone Training Initiative

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense has announced an ambitious plan to train "500,000 drone warriors" by enhancing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) education for military personnel. This initiative aims to improve the country’s drone operation capabilities by distributing educational drones to every army squad. The decision comes in response to the increasing importance of drone operations observed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the project faces criticism, as previous efforts to develop unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and multipurpose unmanned vehicles have struggled to gain momentum. Meanwhile, neighboring countries like China are intensifying their efforts to expand their own unmanned forces.

During a ceremony held at the 36th Infantry Division in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back unveiled the 500,000 drone warrior training plan. The ministry plans to introduce 11,000 small drones for training next year, costing 20.5 billion Korean won from the defense budget. Additionally, drone training grounds will be established in each unit. Currently, the military owns around 1,100 training drones, and the goal is to increase this number tenfold, ensuring that each army squad has access to one drone.

The initiative follows criticism during last year’s National Assembly audit regarding delays in securing drone capabilities. As a result, the army considered replacing outdated mortars with drones. A military official stated, "Nothing has been concretized as of now," while noting that the terrain on the Korean Peninsula, with its vast open plains, differs from Ukraine’s, which may affect the efficiency of drone attacks.

Yang Wook, a researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, pointed out that the military has long advocated for drone reinforcement, but tangible results remain scarce. He suggested that drone training and utilization could improve if drones were treated as consumables rather than assets, which is not currently the case in South Korea. Calls have also emerged for developing drone operation doctrines tailored to the Korean Peninsula and securing communication frequencies.

Another military official raised doubts about the feasibility of training 500,000 drone warriors, given that active-duty troops number around 450,000.

Growing Concerns Over Unmanned Capabilities

While training is essential, there are growing calls to accelerate the acquisition of unmanned capabilities, which lag behind those of other nations. During a military parade on the 3rd marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, China showcased over 10 types of land, sea, and air unmanned weapon systems and drone defense weapons. Notable examples include the AI-powered stealth drone Feihong-97, the stealth reconnaissance and attack UAV Gungji-11, and a new 18-meter-long unmanned submarine. Military officials view these developments as part of China’s broader effort to establish superiority over the U.S. in the air and sea across regions including the Korean Peninsula, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Okinawa.

In contrast, South Korea continues to face challenges in developing even basic surveillance and reconnaissance drones, let alone advanced stealth-capable ones. According to sources from the National Assembly and the defense industry, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) halted a domestic development project last month to replace indigenous Songgolmae UAVs and Israeli-made Heron UAVs with next-generation army corps-level reconnaissance drones. Originally targeting completion in 2017, the project faced delays due to prototype damage and technical shortcomings. DAPA is reportedly reconsidering the project from scratch, raising concerns about a potential gap in unmanned surveillance capabilities.

Of the three Heron drones the army once operated, two were damaged due to North Korean GPS jamming and a helicopter collision, leaving only one functional unit. This highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining and deploying reliable drone systems.

Struggles with Multipurpose Unmanned Vehicles

The army’s multipurpose unmanned vehicle project, designated in 2020 as a "Rapid Demonstration Acquisition Project" to expedite introduction, has yet to begin production five years later. The project aims to produce remote-controlled unmanned vehicles under 2 tons for reconnaissance, combat, transport, patrol, and surveillance. While two companies completed prototype production, disagreements over evaluation criteria have stalled the final contract, with no clarity on signing it within the year.

DAPA is reviewing legal options, including reissuing bids after failed negotiations. A defense industry official remarked, "It’s a rapid acquisition project, yet it’s taking longer than typical weapon system introductions." This delay underscores the challenges in transitioning from planning to actual implementation in South Korea’s unmanned systems development.