Military Spending in South Korea
Our latest data shows that South Korea spent $31,484,000,000 on their military in 2012 which amounted to 2.7% of the country's GDP that year. Check out the chart below for more Korean military budget data. We can only publish the past 12 years, but SIPRI has data as far back as 1988 on their site.
Total Spent: $314,566,000,000 (Last 12 years)
| Year | Dollars Spent | % GDP |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | $20,609,000,000 | 2.6% |
| 2002 | $21,177,000,000 | 2.4% |
| 2003 | $21,898,000,000 | 2.5% |
| 2004 | $22,859,000,000 | 2.5% |
| 2005 | $24,722,000,000 | 2.6% |
| 2006 | $25,613,000,000 | 2.6% |
| Year | Dollars Spent | % GDP |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | $26,773,000,000 | 2.6% |
| 2008 | $28,525,000,000 | 2.8% |
| 2009 | $30,110,000,000 | 2.9% |
| 2010 | $29,912,000,000 | 2.7% |
| 2011 | $30,884,000,000 | 2.8% |
| 2012 | $31,484,000,000 | 2.7% |
Note on Data: Constant (2011) US Dollars are used. For more information about this data visit SIPRI.org.
SIPRI Footnote: The figures for South Korea do not include spending on 3 **special funds** for relocation of military installations, relocations of US bases, and Welfare for Troops. These amounted to 449.3 billion, 1048.8, 1285.2 and 916.7 billion Won in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Other Countries in the Region
Viet Nam$3,397 Million (2012)
Pakistan$6,630 Million (2012)
Taiwan$10,513 Million (2012)
Sri Lanka$1,543 Million (2012)
New Zealand$1,809 Million (2012)
China$157,603 Million (2012)
LaosNo Data (2012)
Cambodia$210 Million (2012)
South Korea's Military Branches
Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force.
Military Service Age in South Korea
20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle school education required; conscript service obligation - 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admitted to 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; HIV-positive individuals are exempt from military service.
