Harnessing ICT-Enabled Warfare: A Comprehensive Review on South Korea’s Military Meta Power

Major countries around the world are leveraging information and communications technology (ICT), such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and cybersecurity, to strengthen their militaries. These technological advancements are driving the changes in weapon systems, strategies, and tactics. In 2021, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense introduced the concept of “military meta power” to describe the power generated in the cognitive military domain utilizing ICT. This concept is significant in that it differentiates between cognitive and physical military power, emphasizing the importance of the cognition-based power in future warfare. Additionally, the concept consolidates various cognitive military capabilities, including AI capability, cyber capability, space capability, and C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), into a unified ICT-generated power. This study aims to contribute to the literature on “military meta power” by providing a comprehensive overview of its characteristics, composition, and attributes. To achieve this objective, the research begins with an exploration of the philosophical insights on technology related to ICT, followed by a comprehensive review of the perspectives of existing academic papers. Finally, this study provides an in-depth analysis of various military strategies.