Generative AI is moving into the Republic of Korea Army’s battlefield decision-support systems.
According to The Korea Herald, the push will center on embedding AI agents that can process large volumes of operational data, interpret mission objectives, and generate real-time recommendations for commanders.
The agents are also expected to handle unstructured data while linking with external databases and digital tools to improve analysis and decision support.
To advance the initiative, the Army Information and Communications School has launched a research program aimed at validating the concept and assessing its effectiveness in defense applications.
The study will also explore technologies such as retrieval-augmented generation, vision-language models, and AI-driven resource management systems intended to automate routine tasks and improve coordination across units.
An army official said applying AI across weapons systems, combat support platforms, and administrative functions is necessary to reduce “manpower, time, and costs.”
“Existing robotic process automation or simple chatbots are limited to handling structured tasks, making it necessary to adopt AI agents capable of processing unstructured data and supporting complex decision-making,” the official added.
Military officials reportedly view the effort as a potential foundation for future AI-enabled command-and-control capabilities, including integration into South Korea’s Korea Joint All-Domain Command and Control System.
South Korea’s AI Modernization Efforts
The move aligns with Seoul’s broader Defense AX strategy, which seeks to integrate AI across weapons systems, surveillance networks, and operational planning tools to improve efficiency while reducing manpower and resource demands.
South Korea is also expanding the use of AI-driven surveillance and automation technologies along the North Korea border as part of broader efforts to offset troop shortages and modernize military operations.
