Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Defense budget for 2022 confirmed as KRW　54,611.2 billion, an increase of 3.4% from the previous year

On December 3, the defense budget for 2022 was confirmed by the National Assembly plenary session, and was increased by 3.4% from the previous year to KRW 54,611.2 billion.

The government submitted to the National Assembly a national defense budget proposal of KRW 55,227.7 billion, reflecting the budget required to improve military meals and the welfare of soldiers and meet the need to increase military force in preparation for all-round security threats.

During the National Assembly deliberation process, the defense budget was reduced by KRW　720.3 billion, but still includes KRW　84.1 billion related to the recommendation of the joint private-public-military committee for improving the military training center facilities, adding sexual abuse counselors, and enhancing the barracks culture, and KRW　19.8 billion for wheeled command post vehicles as a defense improvement cost.

While the military operation cost reflects the essential requirements for operating military forces such as logistics, facilities, and education and training, KRW 37,919.5 billion, an increase of 5.8% compared to the previous year, was budgeted with an emphasis on △ substantially improving the quality of military meal service △ creating a productive and healthy barracks life △ smart defense innovation to lead the future battlefield △ active support for those who fulfill their military service obligations △ establishing an elite national defense manpower structure.

The budget for the defense improvement cost was set at KRW 16,691.7 billion, a decrease of △1.8% compared to the previous year, taking into account △ building nuclear and WMD response capabilities to prepare for all-round security threats, △ securing advanced weapon systems to build comprehensive response capabilities against supranational and non-military threats, △ strengthening the competitiveness of defense R&D technology and fostering the domestic defense industry.