Seoul, Nov 4 (UNI) South Korea's defense budget for 2026 will be increased by 8.2 percent, to 66.3 trillion won (approximately USD 46.2 billion), and the government intends to accelerate the transition of the armed forces to a "smart" format, President Lee Jae-myung stated in parliament.
The head of state's speech was delivered in the National Assembly as part of the annual address on the government's budget draft, and was broadcast on the president's YouTube channel.
"We will restructure traditional weapons systems in accordance with the era of AI, quickly transform the army into an elite 'smart' force, radically strengthening defense capabilities and bringing closer the realization of independent defense," the president said.
South Korea will triple its investment in artificial intelligence and unveil its largest defense budget increase in six years, Lee Jae Myung said.
Lee revealed that 10.1 trillion won ($7 billion) will be allocated to “a major transformation aimed at propelling South Korea into the ranks of the world’s top three AI powers,” alongside the United States and China.
“We will significantly expand investment to usher in the ‘AI era,’” Lee said, highlighting that this allocation is more than three times the country’s current AI-related budget.
According to the president, the Republic of Korea, possessing the fifth most powerful armed forces in the world and spending 1.4 percent of GDP on defense, should rely on its own strength, not on external guarantees.
The president emphasized that artificial intelligence technologies were also changing the defense industry. The government intends to develop it as a leading industry, supporting innovative R&D startups.
In addition, Lee Jae-myung stated that peace on the Korean Peninsula remained a priority and that his administration intended to promote the END (Engagement - Neutralization - Denuclearization) initiative, which provides for the restoration of dialogue with North Korea, de-escalation of military tension, and denuclearization for the sake of peace and joint growth.
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