[Revitalizing K-Defense]① South Korea Establishes European Hub in Poland... Expanding into New Markets

Yoon "Discussing Additional Procurement Plans for Korean Weapons in Poland"
Rapid Delivery of First Implementation Contract Ahead of Korea-Poland Summit
Polish President "Wants to Produce K-Weapons"... Expanding Bases

Korean defense industry (K-Defense) is expected to write another historic export success story.This comes as the two heads of state discussed 'Poland's plan to additionally procure Korean-made weapons' during President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to Poland. After signing the largest-ever export contract worth $12.3 billion last year, rapid delivery has also been achieved. The Presidential Office anticipates export contracts with countries other than Poland, starting with the international defense exhibition to be held soon in Poland.

The momentum has already been set. Based on the large-scale orders from Poland last year, K-Defense export revenue set a new record exceeding $17 billion (approximately 22 trillion KRW). Compared to 2002 ($14 million), it has increased 120 times in 20 years. Since the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, related ministries have shifted their perception from 'defense = security' to utilizing defense as a catalyst for economic revitalization, accelerating orders in Eastern Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East, and ASEAN markets.

Korea-Poland Summit... On Defense Cooperation, Yoon Calls it "Mutually Beneficial," Duda Says "Poland Production Too"

On the 12th (local time), upon arriving in Poland, President Yoon emphasized the "will for defense cooperation with Poland" at every event. On the 13th, during the Korea-Poland summit, he revealed Poland's plan to additionally procure Korean-made weapons and mentioned that defense cooperation between the two countries would proceed on a "mutually beneficial" basis. Before arrival, through an article in a local daily, President Yoon described the export contracts for K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers signed with Poland as "unprecedented in scale," expressing hope that defense cooperation would expand beyond simple import-export to areas such as technology transfer, joint research, and joint development.

The two countries' will for defense cooperation became clearer when the start of delivery of the export-type light attack aircraft FA-50GF was announced immediately after President Yoon's arrival in Poland. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) began delivery just 10 months after signing the export contract with Poland, marking the shortest delivery period in KAI's export history.

Earlier, in September last year, KAI signed a contract to export 48 FA-50 aircraft to Poland, and last month, with Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, attending, held a rollout ceremony for the first prototype at its headquarters in Sacheon, Gyeongnam. Subsequently, the first and second FA-50GF aircraft arrived in Poland on the 9th. After final inspections at Minsk Air Base, they will be delivered to the Polish Air Force in early next month following acceptance flights. The remaining 36 units will be developed in the FA-50PL (Poland) configuration according to the Polish Air Force's requirements and delivered from 2025 to 2028. KAI cited the government-led defense industry support policy aligned 'public-private-military one team' strategy as the driving force behind achieving the shortest delivery period ever.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda also highly appreciates Korea's defense competitiveness. During this summit, he directly mentioned Korea's FA-50 fighter jets, K2 main battle tanks, and K9 self-propelled howitzers, stating, "The Polish military has purchased many weapons from the Republic of Korea," and added, "We want not only to import weapons from the Republic of Korea but also to produce Korean weapons in Poland." A senior official from the Presidential Office said regarding Poland's plan, "Local production will occur after agreements on financial support, implementation plans, and discussions on what technology transfers will take place," expressing low feasibility but noting that implementation plans for a second phase are under discussion.

Poland Success Case Recognized Globally for Competitiveness... Presidential Office and Related Ministries Diversification Strategy

Based on the success case in Poland, efforts to pioneer new markets are expanding. The Presidential Office held the 'Defense Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting,' a 'pan-government defense export control tower' centered on the National Security Office, in April. The first meeting discussed ▲establishing mid- to long-term strategies for becoming a defense export powerhouse ▲export issues and difficulties by key countries such as Poland and Australia ▲directions for institutional improvements for sustainable defense industry growth ▲plans to promote the Korea-US Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement (RDP-A). The National Security Office presented a mid- to long-term goal to elevate the export competitiveness of the domestic defense industry to the level of the "world's top four defense powers" by 2027 and stated, "We will establish country- and region-specific defense export promotion strategies and expand defense cooperation."

Poland's additional contract was also mentioned at this Defense Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting. A National Security Office official said, "We are pursuing large-scale defense export contracts with Poland again this year, which made last year's record-breaking defense export performance possible," adding, "The government and companies will work together to resolve immediate issues and strive to successfully conclude follow-up contracts."

President Yoon is personally overseeing the 'Defense Export Strategy Meeting.' This is based on the judgment that the defense industry's structure must shift from domestic demand-centered to export-oriented to build a self-sustaining growth ecosystem. At the first Defense Export Strategy Meeting held at KAI in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, in November last year, President Yoon said, "General exports are necessary for economic growth, but defense industry exports are essential for national security," and added, "Due to the nature of the defense industry, which requires enormous R&D costs, without exports, it is impossible to maintain advanced weapon systems." A senior government official said, "Last year's record defense export performance confirmed that Korea's weapon systems are sufficiently competitive in the global market," adding, "We will act as one team through pan-government cooperation to build trust with purchasing countries."

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Hyundai Rotem in Changwon, Gyeongnam, last November to inspect exhibition equipment including the K2 tank.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Korean Defense Jackpot... Could Explode at Poland's 'Defense Exhibition' in September

There is speculation that Poland's additional orders may be announced in September. The world's largest defense exhibition is scheduled to be held in Poland in early September. Since 1993, this international defense industry exhibition has been held annually in Poland and is the third largest among European countries' exhibitions.

Korea will participate as a leading country in this exhibition. Since weapon contracts range from hundreds of millions to tens of trillions of won, even simple negotiations can have significant impact. President Yoon mentioned, "Korea is participating as a leading country in the Poland International Defense Exhibition, allowing us to widely promote Korea-Poland defense cooperation achievements and the excellence of K-Defense." This exhibition is an opportunity to enhance Korea's defense competitiveness, secure additional contracts within Poland, and open new markets.

President Duda's interest is also high. Last year, he visited the site a day before the official opening and stayed at the KAI booth, showing interest in the FA-50 light attack aircraft and KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. Among Korean defense companies, the KAI booth was the only one visited by President Duda. This year, Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Defense are also expected to participate.