South Korea must overhaul its military conscription model to address an irreversible demographic collapse, but experts warn that rushing reforms could leave the country dangerously exposed.

With record-low birthrates shrinking the pool of eligible soldiers, the longstanding mass-draft model is no longer sustainable. The issue has taken center stage ahead of the June 3 presidential election, with candidates offering sharply different visions for the future of South Korea’s armed forces.

While proposals vary, the underlying consensus among defense analysts is clear: reforms are unavoidable, but they must be handled with caution and strategic realism.

A SHRINKING FORCE

The urgency of