Civilians to Participate in Landmine Removal Starting Next Year

Ministry of National Defense to Expand Outsourcing as Part of Troop Reduction Measures

Starting next year, civilians will also be allowed to participate in mine removal work. This decision was made in response to changes in the military's personnel structure, such as troop reductions, and the growing demand for mine detection and removal.

Yonhap News Agency

According to the Ministry of National Defense on August 3, the government has finalized the “First Basic Plan for Mine Action (2027-2031)” to safely detect and remove mines and other ordnance that are no longer militarily necessary. The basic plan includes a shift from the current system, where the military was solely responsible for mine removal as part of military operations, to a mine action system that complies with legal regulations and international standards (IMAS).

The Ministry of National Defense plans to systematically identify mine risk areas through surveys, then proceed with removal, and open up land in areas where the risk no longer exists by lifting or reducing minefield designations. Targeted minefields include “pre-installed minefields,” where military utilization plans have been discontinued, and “unconfirmed minefields,” which are areas not officially recorded by the military but where there is a risk of mines being discovered. These areas remain off-limits to civilians due to potential risks. As of last year, there were about 200 such locations (approximately 85 square kilometers) around the Civilian Control Line and rear air defense posts. The military estimates that there are a total of 828,000 mines buried in 1,308 locations nationwide, of which 770,000 mines are in 1,219 locations north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Civilian Control Zone.

The “civilian contracting system” will be introduced, allowing qualified private corporations or organizations to undertake mine detection and removal on behalf of the government. However, since there are currently no specialized mine removal companies in Korea, the plan is to begin in 2027 with small-scale areas and gradually expand the scope of civilian involvement. The government also intends to develop civilian experts, utilize advanced equipment such as explosive detection and removal robots and unmanned search vehicles, and strengthen cooperation with international organizations. The Ministry of National Defense plans to establish a 2027 implementation plan, including the selection of areas for mine detection and removal, by the end of this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.