South Korean military aims to enhance autonomous operations through the training of half a million "drone operatives"

South Korea's Defense Ministry has unveiled an ambitious plan to cultivate half a million troops proficient in drone operations, marking a significant step towards military modernization. The initiative, which is expected to cost approximately $15 million, aims to equip troops with the necessary skills and resources to operate drones effectively.

The funds will be used to procure thousands of small training drones with locally manufactured components, as well as expand infrastructure and professional instruction programs needed for large-scale training. The Defense Ministry also plans to designate additional specialized units to test small and counter-drone technologies developed in the private sector.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back compared the drone initiative to former President Kim Dae-jung's information-technology training for soldiers in the late '90s. The minister unveiled the plan at the Republic of Korea Army's 36th Infantry Division base, with the Army's 36th Division serving as a model for other units, with its experience in strengthening drone operations to be shared widely across the force.

Pilot programs are scheduled to begin later this year across each branch of the armed forces. The initiative is built around two pillars: giving every soldier drone piloting credentials and practical experience, and forging closer ties with the domestic drone industry.

The rapid militarization of unmanned vehicles has become a global trend, with unmanned systems becoming decisive tools for surveillance, precision strikes, and asymmetric tactics in modern warfare. In conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East, drones have altered the balance of power by lowering costs while raising lethality.

North Korea, too, is accelerating its drone program, unveiling advanced unmanned systems, expanding test facilities, and even exporting drones abroad. The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has prioritized unmanned and artificial intelligence capabilities as a cornerstone of military modernization. In March, North Korea showcased AI-powered exploding drones, large reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles, and a converted early-warning aircraft.

The South Korean drone initiative could serve as a catalyst for personal development, industrial growth, and a new source of national strength. With the growing importance of drones in modern warfare, the initiative reflects a global trend of the rapid militarization of unmanned vehicles.

South Korean military aims to enhance autonomous operations through the training of half a million "drone operatives"