The Ministry of National Defense said it has finalized its first five-year mine action plan, which will run from 2027 to 2031.
Under the plan, mine clearance will no longer be treated mainly as a military operation handled by the armed forces. Instead, it will be reorganized into a broader mine action system based on domestic law and the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).
Under the new system, the government will move away from a clearance-only approach and adopt a process based on evidence-based surveys, followed by clearance and the release of land for public use.
The ministry said it will systematically identify mine-risk areas through field surveys before conducting removal operations. Areas found to pose no danger will be removed from minefield designation or have their restricted zones reduced, allowing the land to be opened.
The plan applies to two types of areas: minefields that were previously installed but are no longer needed for military purposes, and suspected mine areas where civilian access is restricted even though there are no official records of mines being laid.
As of last year, there were more than 200 such sites, covering about 85 square kilometers, including areas near the Civilian Control Line and rear air defense positions.
The ministry also plans to introduce a private outsourcing system under which qualified private corporations or organizations can carry out mine detection and clearance work on behalf of the government.
The move is aimed at responding to changes in the military’s manpower structure, including declining troop numbers, and growing demand for mine detection and clearance.
Since South Korea currently has no specialized private mine clearance firms, the ministry plans to begin outsourcing work in small areas in 2027 before gradually expanding the scale of private-sector participation.
The ministry also plans to train civilian specialists, make use of advanced equipment such as explosive detection and disposal robots and unmanned search vehicles, and strengthen cooperation with international organizations.
The ministry will finalize its 2027 action plan, including target areas for mine clearance, by year-end.
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