Yoon Predicts Expanded ROK-Poland Defense Cooperation: "Will Extend to Research and Development"

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President Yoon Suk-yeol began his state visit schedule on the 13th (local time) in Poland, his second country on the tour. This visit marks the first time in 14 years that a South Korean president has visited Poland since President Lee Myung-bak in 2009, and it is also significant as President Yoon's first bilateral visit in Europe since taking office. President Yoon stated, "Bilateral defense cooperation will expand into areas of technology transfer, joint research, and joint development," signaling tangible outcomes through the summit.

On the morning of the same day in Warsaw, President Yoon held a summit with President Andrzej Duda, focusing on defense and nuclear power issues. The official welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace was followed by the summit and a joint press announcement to disclose the agreements reached.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Through the summit, President Yoon plans to concretize various cooperation plans in strategic sectors such as defense, nuclear power, and infrastructure. This reflects the growing scale of economic cooperation between South Korea and Poland. In a contribution to Poland's comprehensive daily newspaper, Rzeczpospolita, President Yoon evaluated, "Despite the global economic downturn, the trade volume between South Korea and Poland reached a record high of $9 billion in 2022, and currently, over 350 Korean companies have entered Poland, contributing to bilateral economic cooperation."

After attending the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee arrived at Warsaw Chopin International Airport on the afternoon of the 12th (local time) to begin their official visit to Poland. They disembarked from Air Force One and boarded a vehicle.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Accompanying the president on this tour are 89 economic delegates, including major business leaders such as Koo Kwang-mo, chairman of LG Group, and Kim Dong-kwan, vice chairman of Hanwha, as well as entrepreneurs from the secondary battery, defense, nuclear power, and construction sectors. The presidential office added, "With both heads of state present, about 250 businesspeople from both countries are expected to sign numerous memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in fields such as new industries, energy, and infrastructure."

President Yoon's expectations are high. He assessed, "The export contracts for the K2 tank and K9 self-propelled howitzer signed with Poland last year are unprecedented in scale and will greatly contribute to strengthening Poland's defense capabilities as well as bilateral defense cooperation." He especially expressed optimism, saying, "The high-speed rail design project linked to the new airport project in Poland, won by a Korean railway consortium, will serve as a catalyst to expand cooperation in infrastructure between the two countries." The presidential office views this summit as a step toward expanding mutually beneficial economic cooperation into future advanced industries. Clean energy, next-generation batteries, electric vehicles, and IT (information technology) sectors are representative areas, with expected expansion of related industrial cooperation based on these.

President Yoon also expressed his intention to closely cooperate with Poland in supporting Ukraine. He said, "South Korea and Poland, as value partners defending freedom and democracy, have spoken with one voice in leading international peace," adding, "We intend to cooperate together in the post-war peace settlement and reconstruction process of Ukraine."

Poland, being the closest country to Ukraine, is expected to become a hub for post-war reconstruction. For this reason, President Yoon plans to meet with Korean companies participating in Ukraine's reconstruction projects during his visit to Poland to discuss government support measures. President Yoon had already clearly conveyed his support intentions to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 Hiroshima summit. The presidential office stated that after the summit, both leaders agreed on the necessity of bilateral cooperation for Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery, officially endorsing Korean companies' participation in reconstruction projects.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who are on an official visit to Poland, are saluting the national flag at a gathering with compatriots held at a hotel in Warsaw on the 12th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Security cooperation with Poland is also among the discussion topics. President Yoon referred to Poland as an "ally" that has taken the lead in condemning North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations and supported South Korea's efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. He added, "South Korea will serve as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2024-2025," and "We will closely cooperate with Poland."

At the Korean community meeting, the first event of the state visit the previous day, President Yoon expressed confidence, saying, "Cooperation between South Korea and Poland will deepen strategically as it expands into advanced fields including defense industry and nuclear power." He also expressed gratitude, stating, "South Korea and Poland, which have maintained exemplary and mutually beneficial relations for 34 years since establishing diplomatic ties, have cultivated a strong partnership. The Korean community active in various parts of Poland has played a significant role as a bridge contributing to the economic development of both countries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.