Hyundai Rotem, Hanwha Aero, and K-Defense Major Player Poland Discuss Export Cooperation Plans in Changwon

Andrzej Duda, President of Poland
Hyundai Rotem Visits Hanwha Aero

Changwon Special City Strengthens Export Support to Sustain K-Defense Industry Boom

Polish President Andrzej Duda, along with the National Security Office chief and other officials, consecutively visited Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Aerospace, leading defense companies in Changwon, Gyeongnam, to discuss cooperation plans for K-defense exports.

On the 25th, Changwon Special City hosted President Duda’s visit to Hyundai Rotem, where he test-rode the EMU-260, a distributed power high-speed train, and then observed the mobility demonstration of the K2 Black Panther tank, a premium weapon that led the K-defense quantum jump, followed by an inspection of the production line.

Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, Hyundai Rotem.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited Hanwha Aerospace to observe the equipment mobility demonstrations of the K-9 self-propelled howitzer and the Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system, both exemplifying the excellence of K-defense weapons, followed by a production line inspection. By directly confirming not only the superior performance of K-defense weapons to be exported to Poland but also the manufacturing lines, it is expected that a green light will be turned on for additional export contracts in the future.

In 2022, Poland emerged as a major buyer of K-defense by purchasing approximately $12.4 billion (about 17 trillion KRW) worth of Korean weapon systems, including 180 K2 tanks, self-propelled howitzers, and light attack aircraft. This accounts for 72% of Korea’s defense export volume. Subsequently, Poland solidified its position as a key customer of K-defense by consecutively purchasing additional K-9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems.

Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, visits Hanwha Aero.

While the first contract batch is currently being delivered, President Andrzej Duda’s on-site visit is interpreted as an effort to further strengthen the achievements of defense cooperation between the two countries and to suppress negative public opinion within Poland’s new administration regarding the adoption of Korean defense systems.

Meanwhile, Changwon Special City has been actively promoting K-defense exports to Poland by participating in MSPO 2023, Poland’s largest defense exhibition, last September as part of its defense sales efforts, thereby enhancing its status as the mecca of K-defense.

Additionally, Changwon has established a sister-city friendship agreement with Pozna?, where WZM, a defense company and local production consortium partner of Hyundai Rotem, is located, and is working to strengthen substance in various fields including defense.

Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, stated, “President Andrzej Duda’s visit to local defense companies was an important opportunity to increase Poland’s interest in Korean weapons and to further solidify defense cooperation. We will do our best to support exports in various fields at the local government level, including defense sales, civilian sector cooperation, and exploring win-win strategies among large, medium, and small enterprises between system companies and local SMEs, to continuously strengthen the cooperative system with Poland, which is the foothold for entering the European market and has led the golden age of K-defense.”