President Lee Emphasizes Importance of Defense Industry at Inaugural Forum

On July 8, President Lee Jae-myung presided over the inaugural Defense Industry Day forum held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul. He stated, "The defense industry is not only about security but also about economic sustenance," and pledged that the government would actively support defense exports. Established as a national commemorative day in 2023, Defense Industry Day is celebrated on July 8 to honor the deployment of the turtle ship during the Imjin War in 1592.

During the event, President Lee remarked, "While the defense industry has primarily focused on domestic growth until now, we have now gained recognition for our capabilities and are exporting weapon systems globally. I hope it will not only strengthen South Korea's security but also become a key industry for our future economy." He added, "The defense industry overlaps with the safety and livelihood of our citizens."

He emphasized the need to enhance the competitiveness of South Korea's K-defense products in response to changing security environments, suggesting the development of advanced weapon systems such as artificial intelligence and unmanned robots to keep pace with rapidly evolving battlefields. The forum was attended by over 150 participants, including representatives from defense companies, heads of related agencies, government officials, and presidential aides. Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung noted that President Lee highlighted the necessity for creative and flexible thinking in the defense sector, advocating for opportunities for small and venture enterprises.

Earlier that day, during a Cabinet meeting, President Lee reiterated the significance of the defense industry, stating, "From having no tanks during the Korean War to becoming the 10th largest defense exporter in the world in just 75 years, the defense industry is the foundation of our military strength and a future economic sector." He called for the establishment of a multi-agency control tower and regular meetings to promote defense exports, urging the creation of a body to eliminate redundancies and barriers among ministries such as the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of National Defense. The defense industry has previously raised concerns about the overly complex government procurement structure and the lack of coordination among agencies supporting defense exports.

During the previous Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the Democratic Party of Korea had taken a negative stance towards the defense industry, proposing legislation to restrict defense exports. In November of last year, the party adopted a policy to control the export of military supplies to Ukraine. President Lee has consistently stated since his presidential campaign that the Democratic Party would actively support K-defense for the national interest.