For the past decade, nearly 900 "skilled" Air Force pilots in South Korea have switched to civilian aviation.

A report released by the South Korean Air Force on the 3rd revealed that nearly 900 "skilled" Air Force pilots have left the military to join the civilian aviation sector in the past ten years, mainly seeking better salary and benefits. The report, submitted by the South Korean Air Force to Kang Dae-sik, a member of the National Power Party and a member of the National Assembly's Defense Committee, stated that from 2017 to March 2026, a total of 896 "skilled" pilots voluntarily retired from the South Korean Air Force, including 730 fighter pilots, 148 cargo pilots, and 18 rotorcraft pilots. Among these voluntarily retired Air Force pilots, 871 chose to work for civilian airlines, including 622 at Korean Air, 146 at Asiana Airlines, which has now merged with Korean Air, and 103 at low-cost airlines.