[BizLeader] Oh Jung-geon, CEO of Sonide: "Korea-Poland Countertrade is a Quantum Jump Opportunity"

Technology Transfer, Trade Forms Demanding Counterpayments Such as Weapon and Component Exports
Sonyde Establishes Cooperative Relationship with Polish State Research Institute

Oh Jung-geon, CEO of Sonide. / Photo by Jang Hyo-won

Recently, domestic defense companies in Korea are reportedly discussing a weapons export contract worth approximately 21.3 billion euros (about 30 trillion KRW) with the Polish government. This would be the second contract following last year's weapons export deal worth 12.1 billion euros (about 17 trillion KRW).

Accordingly, market attention has focused on 'offset trade.' Offset trade is a form of trade where, when purchasing overseas weapons or equipment, the contracting country demands reciprocal benefits such as technology transfer or export of domestically produced weapons and parts. Industry insiders believe that Poland is likely to request offset trade from the Korean government.

In fact, in June, the Polish side reportedly indicated to officials from Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration that “last year, due to increased threats following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Korean weapon systems were purchased without offset trade, but offset trade may proceed in the future.”

Piotr Szynkarczyk, General Director of Ukashievich PIAP (left), and Oh Jung-geon, CEO of Sonid (right) / Photo by Sonid

Sonid, a company listed on KOSDAQ, views this situation as a quantum jump opportunity. Through its subsidiary Defense Korea, Sonid has maintained a cooperative relationship with Poland’s state-owned research institute Ukaszewicz for the past 10 years. On the 3rd of this month, Sonid signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Ukaszewicz’s robotics subsidiary ‘PIAP’ (hereafter Ukaszewicz PIAP), securing comprehensive rights for exclusive distribution, maintenance, joint development, and technology transfer of all robots developed and manufactured by Ukaszewicz PIAP within Korea.

Ukaszewicz PIAP is a state-owned scientific institution located in Warsaw, Poland, with over 50 years of history in automation and robotics. It employs more than 250 staff members, including 150 researchers specializing in information technology, robotics, security, telemetry, and artificial intelligence (AI). To date, it has successfully completed over 100 international projects and operates in about 24 countries worldwide, including Korea, Indonesia, Italy, and Romania.

Junggeon Oh, CEO of Sonid, stated, “Ukaszewicz PIAP has been active in Korea for over 10 years, supplying robots to the National Police Agency and the Ministry of National Defense,” and predicted, “As a Polish state-owned research institute, it is emerging as the most promising candidate for offset trade.”

Sonid’s subsidiary Defense Korea, as Ukaszewicz PIAP’s Korean partner, has been responsible for supplying and maintaining bomb disposal robots jointly developed for special units under the National Police Agency. These robots have proven excellent efficiency and durability through rigorous equipment testing by the police special forces. Additionally, an additional supply of bomb disposal robots to the Korean National Police Agency was confirmed this month, and a demonstration was conducted for the Ministry of Environment on the 18th.

CEO Oh said, “Ukaszewicz PIAP’s robots fully meet the specifications of the Korean National Police Agency and the Ministry of National Defense, making them the most suitable candidates for offset trade,” adding, “If offset trade is realized, Korea will rapidly emerge as a major robot market for Poland, and Sonid plans to jointly establish a robot assembly and manufacturing plant in Korea with Ukaszewicz PIAP to explore entry into the Asian market.”

Robot inspection work supplied to the Korean National Police Agency is underway at the Łukasiewicz PIAP test room located in Warsaw, Poland. / Photo by Sonid

Sonid has also begun preparations as an offset trade operator. Efforts include ▲building cooperative systems with major domestic defense companies ▲promoting the establishment of production plants for disaster prevention robots, AI robots, and unmanned combat robots in various local governments ▲and constructing a robot exhibition hall, all in collaboration with the Polish state-owned research institute to enter the Korean market.

Sonid plans to utilize its robot exhibition hall located in Gangnam, Seoul, as a defense product trading platform between Korea and Poland. The hall will display Ukaszewicz PIAP robots and serve as a cooperation venue with major domestic and overseas defense companies. Invitations will be sent to the National Police Agency, Ministry of National Defense, and the Embassy of Poland in Korea for the opening event scheduled for September.

CEO Oh stated, “Even before the official opening, the robot exhibition hall has already attracted significant interest from the military attach?s of the Saudi Arabian and Japanese embassies in Korea regarding Ukaszewicz PIAP robots,” and added, “Furthermore, Ukaszewicz PIAP is actively promoting a visit to the robot exhibition hall in line with Polish President Andrzej Duda’s scheduled visit to Korea and has requested support to be selected as an offset trade partner.” He further noted, “Sonid will be responsible for manufacturing Ukaszewicz PIAP robots distributed in Asia, supplying robot batteries, and providing maintenance services.”

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