APEC Future Tech Forum ? Defense Sector Held
Over 270 Military Officials and Global Defense CEOs Participate
Son Jaeil: "We Will Realize Technology for Peace"
The three defense industry affiliates of Hanwha have unveiled a plan to combine artificial intelligence (AI) with advanced manufacturing technologies to expand Korea's defense sector into an "industrial platform connecting technological sovereignty and global security." This signals that the defense industry is evolving beyond simple exports into a space for international cooperation and technology sharing.
On October 27, Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems, and Hanwha Ocean held the "Hanwha Future Tech Forum - Defense" at the National Gyeongju Museum in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, under the theme "Sustainable Peace for All." As an official side event of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, the forum was attended by more than 270 participants, including domestic and international military officials and CEOs of global defense companies.
Hanwha held the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit 2025 Future Tech Forum - Defense at the National Gyeongju Museum in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk on the 27th. The photo shows preparations for the event inside the museum on the 26th. Gyeongju ? Photo by Oh Jieun
Son Jaeil, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, stated, "In this era of transformation where AI and manufacturing technologies converge, we must prepare for peace wisely and responsibly. Hanwha's technologies are for protection, not provocation, and we will realize 'Technology for Peace' through global partnerships." Hanwha announced plans to use this forum as a springboard to expand its global security cooperation network, focusing on future fields such as AI, smart manufacturing, space, and energy.
At the forum, Christopher Pyne, former Australian Minister for Defence, and Ralph Wooddisse, Commander of the NATO Rapid Reaction Corps, each delivered keynote speeches highlighting the importance of technological innovation and international collaboration. Alex Nelson Wong, Chief Strategy Officer of Hanwha Group, and John Chipman, Director-General and Chief Executive of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), held a discussion on "Technological Sovereignty and Economic Security in the Age of AI," addressing how the defense industry should respond amid the competition for technological supremacy.
The government also reaffirmed its commitment to fostering the defense industry as a core sector for the future. Prime Minister Kim Minseok, in a video message, stated, "The government is strengthening a technology-centered industrial ecosystem with the goal of becoming one of the world's top four defense powers." National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik praised Hanwha's young leadership for opening a new chapter in global cooperation.
Hanwha is being credited with opening the door to "AI-based defense diplomacy" through this event. Its efforts to build global security partnerships through technological innovation are seen as an attempt to expand the scope of Korean defense from mere exports to broader "connections."
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