Page 123 - 2018 Defense White Paper

four principles toward the direction of reinforcing general of f icer positions in combat units and

reducing them in noncombat f ields to build a “strong military.”
The four principles of the plan are as follows.
First, general of f icer positions will be f irst allocated to combat units for the seamless combat

readiness posture.
Second, general off icer positions in noncombat f ields that can utilize civilian workforce will be
replaced by reservists or civilian experts.

Third, the principle is that the same ranks will be given for similar jobs and functions in each
service and unit of the Armed Forces, although ranks may be adjusted in a balanced manner
with the special characteristics of each service and the size of the units under their command

taken into consideration.
Fourth, commanders in noncombat f ields, including training, logistics and administration,
will be restricted from being given excessively high ranks.
Chapter 4

[ Chart 4-6 ] Changes in the Number of General Officers

No. of General No. of Standing
Year Major Events during the Period
Officers Troops
1953 109 706,000 Creation of the First ROK Army
1957 333 720,000 Deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons and reduction of standing troops (1957–1959)

1961 239 600,000 Reduction of standing troops
Creation of mobilization and homeland divisions for self-defense after the Blue House
1969 329 600,000
Raid and the USS Pueblo Incident in 1968
1975 360 600,000 Implementation of the ROK Armed Forces’ modernization plan (1971–1977)

Force buildup under the Yulgok program (1977–1986) and the creation of the
1979 442 608,000
ROK–U.S. Combined Forces Command (1978)
1986 387 630,000 Plan to reduce the number of officers and NCOs (1982–1986)
1989 434 655,000 Force buildup in preparation for the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics (1987–1988)

Transfer of the peacetime operation control (OPCON; 1994) and implementation of
2007 444 669,000
defense reforms (2006 – present)
Establishment of the plan to reduce the quota of general officers
2013 441 633,000
(2012 – 2030, 60 officers)
Modification of the plan to reduce the quota of general officers
2017 436 618,000
(2012 – 2030, 46 officers)
Reestablishment of the plan to reduce the quota of general officers
2022(plan) 360 500,000
(2018 – 2022, 76 officers)

Section 2 Reducing Standing Troops and Restructuring the Defense Manpower Structure 121