President Lee Jae-myung said on Wednesday he is reviewing expanding alternative military service and revamping the military system over the conscription issue for male science and technology talent.

Lee introduced the plan at the "Dialogue with Future Scientists" event held at Cheong Wa Dae's state guest house. "Male young people, under the same conditions, inevitably face a significant gap in their lives because they must fulfill their national defense duty, and that can become a factor in various conflicts, and there may be aspects that feel unfair," he said.

Lee responded to a student's view that it would be good to have opportunities to build research experience even during service. "There are quite a few alternative service areas in science and technology, but aren't you saying to expand them?" he asked.

Ha Jung-woo (하정우), Cheong Wa Dae senior secretary for AI and future planning, replied, "We are actually talking with the Military Manpower Administration, and the defense minister is also open-minded, so we will organize it and announce it separately." Lee added, "Expansion is under review."

Lee also said, "In addition to this, I am thinking of changing the military itself on a fairly large scale."

"Until now, it was a military system centered on troop numbers and infantry, but now it has completely become competition in equipment and weapons," he said. "Because we need to shift to a system centered on equipment and weapons, manpower is not a matter of numbers but should be trained as experts."

He said he is reviewing a system overhaul so that time in the military is not "a regrettable period of wasting youth and killing time" but a time to learn advanced weapons systems, equipment and cutting-edge technology. "I intend to make it something that can also be used as an opportunity," he said.

During the discussion, Lee also floated the idea, saying, "Other than alternative service, it could be interesting to have research units within the military."

Ha replied, "It is a unit where actual researchers are gathered, and it does experiments and also implementation and operations (which is under review)."

When Lee said, "Before our 'Ha GPT' says it, I already know everything," Ha shot back, "It's because the prompt is good," drawing laughter from the audience.

On the issue of talent leaving overseas, Lee said it is "a very serious matter" for the country and that it is preparing "practical policies" to encourage the return of overseas talent.

On establishing a flexible research culture, he said, "We are also pushing the capitalization of failure as a key task." He added, "There is skepticism in the field that it could be only words, but this time will be different. The research and development sector will proceed with projects in a different direction than before."

A student at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology in Naju, South Jeolla Province, asked him to help ensure outstanding talent emerges from regions as well. Lee said, "We really need creative and original talent. You will achieve great success in the future," and he also promised full support for regional universities, research and talent development.

The event was held under the moderation of science YouTuber "Orbit" and was attended by 205 university and graduate students selected as presidential science scholarship recipients, as well as 35 middle and high school students who won awards at Olympiads.

The slogan, "Scientists Who Challenge, a Korea That Leaps Forward," was written on the back wall of the venue.

[Yonhap News Agency]