Mayor Kim Donggeun: "Systematic Creation of an Ecosystem for Joint Growth of Advanced Defense Companies and Startups"

Uijeongbu City Successfully Hosts "Defense Industry Future Strategy Seminar"
Exploring the Future of AI-Based K-Defense Industry
Strengthening Its Position as a Hub for Advanced Defense Industries

Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun) held the "2025 Defense Industry Future Strategy Seminar" at Island Castle on September 10, taking steps to secure momentum for building an advanced defense industry ecosystem and to establish a strategic direction.

Kim Donggeun, the mayor, is delivering a greeting at the "2025 Defense Industry Future Strategy Seminar" on September 10. Provided by Uijeongbu City

This seminar was organized to explore strategies in response to the rapidly changing security environment and paradigm shift in intelligent defense technologies, and to further solidify Uijeongbu City's position as a hub for AI-based advanced defense industries.

The seminar began with a keynote speech by Kim Byungkyu, Director of the Future Defense Convergence Research Center at Sungkyunkwan University, on the topic "The Era of AI: Crisis and Opportunity for K-Defense Industry." This was followed by three thematic presentations: "Review and Outlook on the Defense Industry Location Conditions in Northern Gyeonggi Province" (Cho Seongtaek, Director of the Northern Gyeonggi Special Self-Governing Province Research Center at the Gyeonggi Research Institute), "The Role of Universities in Establishing Defense Industry Bases in Northern Gyeonggi Province" (Kim Yanghun, Professor of Cyber Drone Bot Military Studies at Shinhan University), and "Collaboration Between the Military and Startups: New Possibilities for Defense Cities" (Jung Hyukjun, CEO of IONE Lab Co., Ltd.).

The keynote speech shared insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the K-Defense industry amid the evolution of AI technology and changes in the global security environment. The subsequent presentations featured experts from industry, academia, and research sectors, who offered balanced perspectives on policy, education, and technology, thereby contributing to the practical effectiveness and implementation of the city's ongoing efforts to establish a defense industry ecosystem.

In particular, the seminar highlighted the potential of returned U.S. military sites and the strategic location of northern Gyeonggi Province. There was a consensus on the necessity and justification for attracting the "Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center," an anchor institution that will provide practical support such as identifying military requirements, guiding technology development procedures, and offering information on acquisitions to help small and venture companies enter and grow in the defense industry. The city plans to attract the Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center to present a vision for a major transformation as a hub city for advanced defense industries.

Through this seminar, the city reaffirmed its vision of "Uijeongbu, a hub city leading the K-Defense industry," and plans to further develop its strategy to build an advanced defense industry ecosystem, which includes three major strategies and 15 key initiatives.

Mayor Kim Donggeun stated, "Uijeongbu City has endured national sacrifices for defense and security over the past 70 years. Now, to turn those sacrifices into opportunities for regional development, we will accelerate the promotion of the defense industry and the attraction of the Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center. Through this seminar, we will share our policy vision with experts and systematically build an ecosystem where advanced defense companies and startups can grow together."

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