한국군 병역 제도의 모병제로의 전환 가능성 연구 - 비용 분석을 중심으로 -

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of following the recent military issue and making the transition from conscription to the volunteer system, in light of the national finance laid out in Military Reform Plan 2030. This study is focused on the army soldiers, whose number is bound to be reduced by the greatest extent according to the plan. For this study, we map out the military structure envisioned by the defense reform plan, and then we use cost analysis tools to calculate the maintenance cost of the present conscription system and the expected maintenance cost of a volunteer force. After calculating these figures, we determine the transition cost for a volunteer force by subtracting the former from the latter to examine whether this transition is viable or not. We contend that, as this figure is lower than the expected increase in the maintenance cost of the current recruiting system, the Republic of Korea Army can move on to a voluntary military system. This study is different from the preceding studies which conclude that the ROK Army can not change its existing recruiting system based on the analysis of Military Reform Plan 2020. In contrast, this study is significant in that it is the first to examine the plan 2030 for this purpose, and it also calculates soldiers’ wages by setting weighted values and multiplying them to the average wage of each age group between 20-29 years. In conclusion of this study, the ROK Army can turn into an all-volunteer force after an intermediate period of a mix of volunteers and conscripts, and we should strive to develop a volunteer system appropriate for the Korea military culture.