Page 198 - 2020 Defence White Paper

essential forces of each battlefield function for military structure reorganization, 230
mm-class MRLs, wheeled armored vehicles, next-generation Aegis destroyers, KF-
X, and amphibious helicopters will be procured to enhance the ROK Armed Forces’
ground, naval, and air operations capabilities qualitatively and quantitatively.
Third, KRW 1.9 trillion is allocated to improve the ROK Armed Forces’ capabilities
in carrying out anti-terrorism operations, providing disaster relief, and protecting
overseas nationals, and to respond to transnational and nonmilitary threats such as
the COVID-19 pandemic. In the field of counter-terrorism, the MND will procure
customized equipment and articles–such as folding guns, explosive detecting and
eliminating robots, new CBRN reconnaissance vehicles, and dry decontamination
apparatus–to reinforce the special strike and night surveillance capabilities of the
ROK Armed Forces and guarantee the mission execution capabilities of anti-terrorism
units and counter-CBRN units according to the designation of responsible units for
each city and province. The MND will also strengthen the ability to carry out relief
activities and to protect overseas nationals in the event of a disaster by deploying
medevac helicopters and amphibious assault ships.
Lastly, KRW 24.8 trillion is allocated to carry out defense R&D and invigorate
the defense industry. The MND plans to increase the share of defense R&D in
the mid-term defense budget to 8.3%. Especially, the investment will mainly take
place in the early stages of the mid-term to acquire new technologies of the Fourth
Industrial Revolution in the defense domain. Heavy investment will be made in basic
research and core technology development centered on 8 areas of defense strategic
technology–such as autonomous technologies and AI–including restructuring of

R&D institutions and reinforcement of infrastructure to ensure that creative R&D
reinforcement projects are carried out.

4. Efficient Defense Management

Implementing Defense Since 2013, the MND has been operating the "De-
Fiscal Reform fense Management Efficiency Inspection Com-
mittee" presided by the Vice Minister of National
Defense and joined by civilian experts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of
defense operations. The committee is the first group to conduct preliminary
feasibility studies and in-depth evaluations of force operation projects, and promoted
tasks related to logistics innovation including procurement, replacement parts, and
distribution utilizing civilian expert groups.

196 2020 Defense White Paper