Seoul to cut number of military attaches at overseas embassies

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to bring home nearly one third of
its military attaches stationed abroad in an effort to cut spending and combat
the economic doldrums, officials said Monday.

The Ministry of National Defense plans to gradually withdraw 24 of the 80
military officers now serving at South Korean embassies around the world, Col.
Kim Chong-wan said in a briefing.
"The move is part of our efforts to join the national campaign against economic
difficulties," said Kim, who oversees the mission, adding embassies with more
than one military attache will be the first considered for the reduction.
Kim declined to disclose the amount of money that will be saved once the
withdrawal of military attaches is completed.
Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said that embassies in the United States, Russia,
China and Japan currently have more than one military attache. He said he did not
know whether other ministries, which have sent their representatives to overseas
embassies, would follow suit.
Amid the government's campaign to ride out economic hardships, the defense
ministry has frontloaded its budget to provide a stimulus for the local economy,
with its officials being told to cut unnecessary spending.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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