From Gumi Defense Venture Center to Gyeongbuk Defense Venture Center, Emerging as North Gyeongsang's Forward Base for the Defense Industry

Expanded from Gumi-centered operations to cover all of North Gyeongsang Province
Strengthening its role as a hub of the defense industry ecosystem
Achieving cumulative defense sales of 1.6 trillion won and creating 1,000 jobs over 11 years

The Gumi Defense Venture Center, which had been operating mainly for small and venture businesses in the Gumi area of North Gyeongsang Province, was expanded and reorganized into the "Gyeongbuk Defense Venture Center" as of January 1, 2026, and has made a fresh start as a support hub for defense companies across the whole of North Gyeongsang Province.

On February 12, the Gyeongbuk Defense Venture Center held a plaque unveiling ceremony, officially launching the establishment of a wide-area defense industry support system, with around 40 officials in attendance, including the Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of North Gyeongsang Province and the Vice Mayor of Gumi City.

Gyeongbuk Defense Venture Center Plaque Unveiling Ceremony / Courtesy of Gumi City Hall

Since its opening in March 2014, the Gumi Defense Venture Center has signed agreements with 103 small and venture companies based in Gumi over the past 11 years, providing focused support for their entry into the defense market and for defense-related cooperation. Through these efforts, it has achieved tangible results, including cumulative defense sales of 1.6 trillion won and the creation of 1,000 jobs.

At the event, along with the plaque unveiling for the Gyeongbuk Defense Venture Center, agreements were signed with 19 new companies in the province that will join the program in 2026. This was followed by presentations on this year’s business plans and defense industry development support projects, as well as guidance on the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s support policies for defense companies, sharing essential information to help companies in the province enter and grow in the defense sector.

In addition, a meeting was held with the partner companies to listen to on-site difficulties and exchange views on ways to strengthen the competitiveness of the regional defense industry and foster small and medium-sized enterprises.

Gumi City Vice Mayor Jung Seonghyeon said, "The Gumi Defense Venture Center has so far played a major role in helping local small and venture businesses enter the defense sector," and expressed his expectation that the Gyeongbuk Defense Venture Center will continue to play a significant role, together with Gumi, in revitalizing the defense ecosystem across the province.

Gumi City is strengthening its position as a key hub of K-Defense by operating the Defense Venture Center, creating the Defense Manned-Unmanned Combined System Defense Innovation Cluster (April 2023), and being designated as a specialized semiconductor complex (July 2023). The city plans to use the expansion and reorganization into the Gyeongbuk Defense Venture Center as a springboard to accelerate the revitalization of the provincial defense ecosystem and support for corporate growth.

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