This report is based on a deep reflection of the illegal emergency martial law incident in 2025. It aims to strengthen democratic control mechanisms to ensure the military is never used as a political tool again. The ministry plans to focus all capabilities on its core mission of national defense and restoring public trust.

Of the 2026 defense budget, defense capability improvement costs will increase by 11.9% to 19.96 trillion KRW. The budget for the Korea Three-Axis System will rise by 21.3% to 8.8 trillion KRW, and the AI budget will quadruple to 124.4 billion KRW. The goal for defense exports is set at $11 billion with diversification to 17 countries.

To prepare for the decrease in military resources due to the demographic cliff, the military structure will be reorganized around AI and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T). Security sovereignty will be strengthened by pursuing Full Operational Capability (FOC) validation for the Wartime Operational Control (OPCON) transfer by 2026. The ROK-US alliance will expand into defense science, technology, and industry.

The base pay for junior officers will increase by 6.6%, and holiday duty stipends will rise from 40,000 KRW to 100,000 KRW. Paternity leave for service members will double from 10 to 20 days to reduce childcare burdens. The lifting of 3.98 million m² of military facility protection zones will allow residents in those areas to exercise their property rights more freely.