Introduction
Things are changing in the Republic of Korea (ROK). On the domestic front, the nation has made the transition from authoritarianism to democracy. On the international front, the ROK has been embraced by many of its former adversaries-including China and Russia. Perhaps equally significant, Seoul has adopted a new approach toward relations with its arch-rival on the Korean peninsula-the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Dramatic transformations in the ROK armed forces have accompanied these changes.
This study provides a net-assessment of the ROK military. It provides a broad overview of Seoul’s basic defense policy and examines the ROK military’s structure, composition and organization. In conclusion, the study explains that, while the DPRK remains the touchstone for the ROK’s national security, Seoul is beginning to take steps to achieve regional power status in coming decades. Before it can achieve this goal, however, it must address several major security issues that confront the nation.
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