Faced with a shortage of military personnel, Australia is actively recruiting foreign military officers and offering pathways to citizenship. Several key South Korean military officers have recently joined the Australian Defense Force.
According to a report by MBC‘s News Desk on Wednesday, the Australian Embassy in South Korea recently shared a video on social media showcasing a joint training exercise involving Korean forces in Sydney in September.
In the video, an Australian naval officer highlighted the cooperation between the two countries and revealed that he had previously served in the South Korean Navy.
He stated, “I’m currently serving as an engineering officer in the Australian Navy. I served as a navigation officer in the Korean Navy in 1994.”
A similar case was reported two years ago. An Australian military officer, interviewed in front of his displayed Korean military uniform, also disclosed that he had previously served as a South Korean Army officer.
He was a former Korean Army officer who had served for nearly 20 years, including deployments with the UN Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon and the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command.
He cited poor working conditions during frontline duty as a reason for his transition to the Australian military.
“I felt guilty for my family’s sacrifices, as they stayed with me in the frontlines where we had heavy workloads and limited access to basic necessities,” he explained.
He added, “Although I took a step down in rank when I joined the Australian military, the biggest difference is the improved work-life balance.”
This year, a Korean Army officer at the battalion commander level reportedly joined the Australian military immediately after discharge.
MBC reported, “At least four South Korean military officers have been identified as having enlisted in the Australian Defence Force, all of whom are known to be key personnel with outstanding language skills, overseas deployment experience, and expertise in joint operations.”
Mid-ranking officers in the South Korean military are choosing to transition to the Australian Army due to high workloads, challenging duty locations, relatively low compensation, and job insecurity. They are all in search of a better future for their families.
The Australian government has announced plans to accept 100,000 foreign military veterans into its defense forces by 2040, suggesting that the number of such cases is likely to increase.
Recently, high-ranking Australian military officials visiting South Korea have indirectly encouraged Korean officers to transfer.
South Korean Defense Ministry: “No Way to Prevent Joining Foreign Militaries After Discharge”
Hong Gi Won, a member of the South Korean National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from the Democratic Party, emphasized, “The Ministry of National Defense must take proactive measures to improve the treatment and working conditions of its officers with a sense of urgency.”
The media criticized the Defense Ministry for its inaction, noting that despite the ongoing brain drain, it claims it cannot prevent discharged personnel from joining foreign militaries and isn’t even tracking the situation.
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