Korea eyes tech-focused noncommissioned officer track amid conscription reform push

Korea plans to introduce a noncommissioned officer track focused on advanced military technology as part of its push to reform the conscription-based military service system by augmenting voluntary enlistment, the defense ministry said Thursday. The move comes as the Lee Jae Myung administration pushes for a "selective voluntary enlistment system" designed to attract more young people into military careers while maintaining mandatory military service for men. The "tech-intensive" noncommissioned officers would specialize in areas such as manned-unmanned systems, cyber operations and artificial intelligence, and serve for four to five years unless they choose to pursue a longer-term military career, ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said in a press briefing. "We plan to gradually expand the number of 'tech-intensive' noncommissioned officers in line with efforts to restructure the military with a focus on advanced science and technology," Chung said. "While maintaining the conscription system, we are considering ways to broaden service options, which is the basic concept behind the select