Seoul, Nov. 4 -- South Korea's defense budget for 2026 will be increased by 8.2 percent, to 66.3 trillion won (approximately USD 46.2 billion), and the government intends to accelerate the transition of the armed forces to a "smart" format, President Lee Jae-myung stated in parliament.
The head of state's speech was delivered in the National Assembly as part of the annual address on the government's budget draft, and was broadcast on the president's YouTube channel.
"We will restructure traditional weapons systems in accordance with the era of AI, quickly transform the army into an elite 'smart' force, radically strengthening defense capabilities and bringing closer the realization of independent defense," the president said.
South Korea...