South Korea is moving to bolster its defenses against unmanned aerial systems with a proposed budget of about 441 million dollars dedicated to anti-drone initiatives through 2027. This figure was reported by the TV channel KBS, which referenced a draft that outlines a five-year increase in the military budget for the period running from 2023 to 2027. The plan signals a clear emphasis on countering drone-enabled threats and adapting defense capabilities to a changing aerial landscape as regional security pressures intensify and the pace of drone technology accelerates across near and far skies.
The overall five-year outlay for the South Korean Ministry of Defense could reach approximately 261 billion dollars, or 331.4 trillion won, with defense expenditures alone projected to be around 84 billion dollars, equivalent to about 107.4 trillion won. This scale of investment reflects a strategic shift toward modernizing core defense pillars, including air and missile defense, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as the integration of new technologies that can detect, deter, and defeat evolving aerial threats across multi-domain environments.
A key element of the plan involves the army advancing technologies to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, specifically by developing radar-based detection systems and laser weapons capable of intercepting small, fast-moving drones. These efforts aim to close gaps in early warning, improve engagement timing, and reduce collateral risk during closer-range defense operations, creating a layered defense that can rapidly respond to both observed drone swarms and sporadic incursions with precision and reliability.
Former South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol has been cited as advocating a robust, reciprocal response to UAV activity emanating from North Korea, including the concept of countering each inbound drone with multiple opposing drones. This policy stance reflects a broader strategic posture that prioritizes deterrence and the introduction of offensive and defensive capabilities designed to impose costs on adversaries attempting to operate in the South Korean airspace, while seeking to preserve overall regional stability.
Recent incidents underscore the ongoing challenge of remote-threat incursions, as drones reportedly entered South Korean airspace and performed maneuvers at low altitudes, complicating attempts to neutralize them with traditional air defense tools. In the wake of these events, the Ministry of Defense acknowledged shortcomings in the response, offering an apology for the perceived gaps in air defense readiness and signaling a renewed focus on rapid acquisition, improved command and control, and more effective counter-drone measures to restore confidence in national security operations.