Seoul: Around 900 South Korean Air Force pilots have quit the armed forces for better-paying jobs with civilian airlines in the last decade, media reports said Sunday, citing data.

According to Anadolu Agency, a report submitted by the air force to the parliamentary sub-committee on national defense indicates that 896 "skilled" air force pilots opted for voluntary discharge from 2017 to March 2026. Skilled pilots, as defined by the air force, are those with between eight and 17 years of experience, capable of conducting operations independently and training younger and lower-ranked pilots.

The pilots who left the air force include 730 fighter pilots, 148 cargo pilots, and 18 rotary-wing pilots. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, approximately 100 pilots used to leave the air force for the civilian sector annually. However, in 2021, only seven air force pilots transitioned to civilian careers as global air traffic faced a decline.

To prevent a mass exodus, the air force has imposed a mandatory service period on pilots: 15 years for Air Force Academy graduates who fly fighter jets or cargo planes, and 10 years for those who did not graduate from the military academy. A 2025 survey highlighted factors such as the wage gap between air force and commercial pilots, high risks associated with military jobs, and stress from constant emergency standbys as reasons for choosing civilian airlines.

An air force official mentioned that renewed measures are in place to prevent further departures of skilled pilots.