South Korea to train 500,000 troops as drone operators amid North Korean threats

South Korea plans to significantly expand its drone capabilities by training about 500,000 personnel across its Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps as “drone warriors” in response to growing military threats from North Korea, according to the country’s Ministry of National Defense.

The ministry said thousands of domestically developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be deployed across military units as part of a broader effort to integrate drones into routine combat operations. The initiative aims to make drones a standard battlefield tool for every service member.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said the government had initially planned to produce 110,000 drones by 2029 but later revised the target to around 60,000. About 11,000 drones are expected to be delivered to the military in 2026 alone.

“Drones will no longer be limited to specialized units,” Ahn said. “They will become every soldier’s second personal weapon.”

The government also said all military drones will be manufactured using domestically produced components to strengthen supply chain security, ruling out the use of Chinese-made parts.

According to the ministry, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated that relatively inexpensive drones can significantly influence the outcome of modern warfare. At the same time, North Korea has continued expanding its own drone capabilities, creating new security challenges for Seoul.

As part of the modernization plan, South Korea will also deploy laser- and high-powered microwave-based counter-drone systems. Individual military branches will be given greater operational autonomy, enabling them to conduct surveillance and strike missions with their own drones without waiting for centralized command.

A senior defense official said the military will soon procure more than 20,000 low-cost, single-use drones. The force will also introduce artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled drone swarm technology and loitering munitions to enhance its battlefield capabilities.