Anbosil "Forming a Korean One Team to Support Defense Industry Exports to Australia and Canada"

Exploring Support Measures at the 'Bangsan Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting'

Inseonghwan, the 2nd Deputy Director of the National Security Office (sixth from the left in the front row), is taking a commemorative photo with attendees at the 6th Defense Industry Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting held on the 17th at the Defense Convention in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government has decided to form a Korea One Team to support package exports in order to secure large-scale projects such as the Australian frigate export project and the Canadian submarine export project, as demand in the global defense industry market expands from ground equipment to naval vessels.

On the 17th, In Seong-hwan, the 2nd Deputy Director of the National Security Office, presided over the '6th Defense Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting' at the Yongsan Defense Convention and stated, "The Ministry of National Defense, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and other related ministries will continue high-level consultations by country for ongoing defense cooperation and will actively support by forming a joint government negotiation team if necessary."

This meeting, led by the National Security Office, brought together government and companies to discuss current issues and strategies for defense exports. It was the sixth meeting since the first one in April 2023. The meeting evaluated the achievements of the domestic defense industry and sought ways to strategically support the acquisition of new large-scale defense export projects at the whole-of-government level. Discussions were held on strategies for securing new large-scale defense export projects alongside the stable implementation of the large-scale master contract signed with Poland in July 2022.

Participating agencies and defense companies agreed to closely cooperate to ensure the smooth execution of defense cooperation projects totaling $44.2 billion, including the $7 billion K2 tank export project currently under negotiation with Poland. Furthermore, they pledged to work together in the public and private sectors to not only achieve one-time exports but also ensure follow-up support to further enhance the status of K-Defense. Opinions were also exchanged on expanding additional defense cooperation with Poland, including ammunition and submarines.

Defense companies assessed that global scrutiny is intensifying as K-Defense's global market share increases, emphasizing the need for whole-of-government responses and comprehensive cooperation package support not only in defense but also in defense, energy, manpower, and education.

In particular, Australia, as a country sharing security strategy values closely with Korea beyond simple weapon system sales, plans to expand defense and defense industry cooperation through hosting local defense forums, major domestic and international events, high-level exchanges, and joint exercises. Canada, as a comprehensive strategic partner, plans to strengthen networking by newly holding Korea-Canada Foreign and Defense (2+2) Ministerial Meetings and promote K-Defense.

Deputy Director In said, "Through numerous summit diplomacy defense sales, since the launch of our government, K-Defense has established itself as a premium brand," adding, "Defense exports and the defense industry will play a very important role in the national economy and job creation, and the Presidential Office will spare no support." He continued, "In a situation where scrutiny of K-Defense is intensifying, it is necessary for the government and companies to unite as Korea One Team to enter the global market and secure large-scale projects."

Attendees at the meeting included officials from the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, defense companies such as Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, LIG Nex1, KAI, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, Hanwha Systems, as well as the Korea Defense Industry Association, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Defense Material Trade Support Center, and the Agency for Defense Development.

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