The First Military Weapon Parts Came from the 'Cheonggyecheon Scrap Dealer'

President Park Tae-joon, President Park Chung-hee, and Deputy Prime Minister Kim Hak-ryul (from left) attending the comprehensive groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of Pohang Steelworks on April 1, 1970 (Photo by POSCO)

[Kim Min-wook, Editor-in-Chief of Monthly Defense and Technology]▲ The Lightning Project Directly Ordered by the Blue House= On November 11, 1971, an urgent weapon development directive was delivered to the Agency for Defense Development through the Blue House Secretariat, ordering the domestic production within four months of key military equipment including 10 Calvin rifles, 2 M1 rifles, 5 submachine guns, 4 60mm mortars, 4 3.5-inch rocket launchers, 300 grenades, and 20 anti-tank mines. This was the so-called 'Lightning Project.'

With almost no industrial base or accumulated technology essential for weapon production and a total budget of only 9.7 million won, short-term development was inevitably a reckless plan, even if it was just imitation production. True to its name, the Lightning Project underwent several proposals, plan formulations, and quantity revisions, and the first phase of the project was executed on November 17, less than a week after the initial directive.

About ten leading experts from the domestic scientific community at the time were mobilized as heads of various sectors for the first Lightning Project. The development method mainly involved localizing the TDP (Technical Data Package) imported from the United States or acquiring sample equipment to reverse-engineer it, with defense companies producing prototypes under the technical guidance of the Agency for Defense Development.

Equipment used by the Army was borrowed as samples, disassembled to understand their composition, and precise measurements were taken. Since most equipment was not new at the time, it was difficult to obtain accurate dimensions. Especially because most firearms were not domestically produced, sourcing materials for research was a serious issue. At that time, there were no special steel factories, so researchers had to search for materials at hardware stores, mainly junk shops along Cheonggyecheon.

Despite budget shortages and inadequate facilities, through the efforts of the Agency for Defense Development’s responsible departments, prototype companies including Geumseongsa, and the Ministry of National Defense, test firing of prototype equipment began in late December of the same year, less than two months after the project started. The Lightning Project continued with the second and third phases until September 1972, expanding to items such as communication equipment and personal gear, and laid the foundation for mass production of all prototypes.

4.2-inch Mortar Prototype (May 1973)

▲ From State-led to Private-led Heavy and Chemical Industrialization Policy= After the Lightning Project was promoted and the M16 rifle production plant was completed in 1972, basic firearms products began to be produced domestically. However, despite the establishment of technical foundations and production facilities, efficiency improvements were slow. After several trials and errors, the government diagnosed the cause as an absolute lack of ultra-precision technology and planned to establish a foundation for heavy and chemical industries and train precision technicians. This intention, combined with the economic development goal of 'industrial structure advancement,' led to the declaration of the 'Heavy and Chemical Industrialization Policy' in 1973.

In the heavy and chemical industry plan, whether to promote the defense industry under state leadership or private leadership became a point of debate among government ministries. During this debate, concerns were raised that fostering the industry as a public enterprise could risk triggering a 'war inevitability theory' to ensure the survival of enterprises if demand became saturated. Ultimately, the defense industry was established as a system led by private companies with government policy support. According to the basic principle that "private companies handle production activities of the defense industry, and multiple companies are fostered through production system organization," 82 production plants were designated for weapon parts, and to efficiently utilize production facilities, 80% of each plant’s capacity was allocated for civilian use and 20% for defense use during peacetime.

▲ Enactment of the Special Measures Act on Military Procurement= The year 1972 was a groundbreaking year for the Korean defense industry. The Korea Industrial Development Institute presented research results emphasizing the need for protection and control of companies and industries considering the special nature of the defense industry. Based on this research, in February 1973, the “Special Measures Act on Military Procurement” (hereinafter 'Military Procurement Special Act') was promulgated as a special law taking precedence over existing laws. Due to the enactment of this act, defense companies could receive funding necessary for installing and supplementing defense facilities and were granted various tax exemptions and reductions. Technicians and skilled workers employed by defense companies also became eligible for military service exemptions, establishing a foundation for significant progress not only in protecting companies but also in safeguarding manpower.

The Defense Material Designation System was also introduced in 1973 as stipulated in the Military Procurement Special Act. This system grants the company that developed a weapon system needed by the military an exclusive mass production right for a certain period (at least five years). This enabled the government to secure and maintain a stable supply of quality-assured products and laid the groundwork for protecting and fostering the defense industry.

Subsequently, recognizing the need for long-term planning for effective defense industry development, the Agency for Defense Development and private research institutions took the lead in establishing the '10-Year Defense Industry Plan.' The goal was to domestically produce small arms, ammunition, and basic equipment by 1976, and to localize precision weapons such as tanks, aircraft, guided missiles, and warships by the early 1980s. The 10-Year Defense Industry Plan was divided into two major phases: the foundational phase from 1971 to 1976 and the completion phase from 1977 to 1981. The foundational phase was further divided into the basic development period from 1971 to 1973 and the licensed prototype production period from 1974 to 1976, aiming to develop basic weapons and establish production foundations.

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