Yoon Inspects Defense Export: "Strategic Industry Supporting Security and Economy... Expanding Cooperation Scope"

2nd Defense Industry Export Strategy Meeting
Expanding Cooperation Beyond Finished Product Exports to R&D
Yoon "Netherlands Visit Will Create New Opportunities for Defense Exports"

President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized again on the 7th the government's intention to expand support, stating, "Defense industry cooperation is expanding beyond simply exporting finished products to include follow-up logistics support, joint research and development, and education and training, and furthermore, defense cooperation must be the foundation." This means that the government aims to lead not only manufacturing and sales but also research and development (R&D), workforce development, and technological cooperation with allied countries to create an opportunity for a leap forward in our defense technology and exports.

On the same day, President Yoon presided over the '2nd Defense Export Strategy Meeting' at Hanwha Aerospace, a defense company located in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, stating, "The defense industry is a national strategic industry that supports both our security and economy." After holding the 1st Defense Export Strategy Meeting, which President Yoon personally chaired in November last year, the National Security Office established the 'Defense Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting' as a control tower for the defense industry, where the government, defense companies, and institutions have been jointly evaluating export status and cooperation and seeking strategies.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking while presiding over the 2nd Defense Industry Export Strategy Meeting at Hanwha Aerospace in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 7th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This meeting was organized to evaluate past achievements and review the future direction of defense exports. Attendees included Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Bang Moon-kyu, Defense Acquisition Program Administration Chief Eom Dong-hwan, other government officials related to the defense industry, chiefs of staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Marine Corps commander, representatives from over 40 defense companies, as well as defense innovation companies leading the new defense industry sector and about 100 young defense industry workers.

At the meeting, President Yoon stated, "The government will actively support the cultivation of the defense industry as an advanced strategic industry so that the current growth trend of defense exports can continue to expand." Unlike conventional weapons, the defense sector has recently been actively linked with advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and semiconductors, meaning that through technological cooperation, a win-win structure can be created. Whereas in the past, firepower or performance relative to price was important, recently, the inclusion of advanced technologies such as reconnaissance, attack deterrence, and precision strikes plays a crucial role in exports. The government also announced the 'Sustainable Defense Export Promotion Strategy' to leap into the world's top four defense powers by 2027 and promised policy support focusing on five advanced strategic industry sectors: space, AI, unmanned/manned complex systems, semiconductors, and robotics.

He also stressed the activation of technological cooperation not only domestically but also with allied countries. Previously, President Yoon had agreed to strengthen cooperation in advanced industries such as AI, quantum technology, and semiconductors through summit meetings with scientifically advanced countries including Canada, the United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as visits to major universities in those countries. The Presidential Office has explained that President Yoon's efforts in scientific and technological cooperation will serve as an opportunity not only for advanced industry cooperation but also for the advancement of defense technology and strengthening solidarity with allied countries. Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director of the National Security Office, explained during a local briefing on his state visit to the UK last month that "(Quantum technology) can cause malfunctions in the propulsion and separation process of missile warheads or affect their trajectory, neutralizing strikes on target points," referring to enhanced cooperation on quantum technology under the Downing Street Accord.

Regarding President Yoon's upcoming state visit to the Netherlands next week, he said, "We plan to focus on discussing ways to strengthen the semiconductor alliance between the two countries," emphasizing, "Especially, semiconductor cooperation with the Netherlands, which possesses the world's best lithography technology such as EUV, will greatly contribute to strengthening our defense capabilities and also create new opportunities for defense exports."

He shared success stories of large corporations achieving export success through independent technology development investment and small and medium-sized enterprises that grew with government support, while also listening to various opinions and difficulties from the defense industry. President Yoon stressed, "To resolve the various difficulties faced by the defense industry, collaboration among the private sector, government, and military and the consolidation of government-wide capabilities are necessary."

After the meeting, President Yoon moved to the nearby defense company LIG Nex1 to exchange opinions with young defense industry workers. The Presidential Office reported that President Yoon promised, "Since they are responsible for national security and also contribute to the national economy, we will spare no support so that they can feel rewarded and receive fair treatment and compensation."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Youth Defense Industry Meeting held on the 7th at LIG Nex1 in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
[Image source=Yonhap News]