President Lee Jae Myung reinforced his government's dedication to developing the country's defense sector, stating that achieving status among the world's top four military powers is "certainly an attainable goal."
During his address at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025 opening ceremony, Lee committed to substantial funding for defense and aerospace research and development until 2030.
The nation is pursuing an ambitious strategy to position itself as a leading global defense force, fueled by increasing export contracts and growing domestic manufacturing capabilities. This goal is supported by significant progress, including recognition among the top five worldwide military forces and achieving approximately $17.3 billion in weapons sales during 2022, plus securing over $4 billion in arms exports throughout 2023.
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The current ADEX event has assembled more than 500 national and international defense and aerospace sector executives along with foreign representatives at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.
Lee additionally revealed initiatives to substantially enhance policies and frameworks that will facilitate swift implementation of cutting-edge defense technologies in operational environments.
He highlighted the establishment of an expedited process within the defense sector to speed up the integration of emerging technologies across military branches.
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He also committed to reducing obstacles for small and medium-sized companies and new ventures possessing sophisticated technologies, promoting their meaningful involvement in defense and aerospace industries.
Lee restated that establishing Korea as one of the globe's top four defense nations remains a primary objective of his government.
Furthermore, recognizing the constraints of depending exclusively on internal market demand and the requirement for extensive financial resources and technical capabilities, the president highlighted the critical nature of building international collaborations within the defense industry.
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At a defense industry development discussion forum following the ADEX ceremony, Lee reiterated the significance of autonomous national defense and emphasized the government's commitment to substantially increasing defense spending.
Lee refrained from disclosing the exact magnitude of the budget increase. The current year's defense allocation stands at 61.2 trillion won ($43 billion), with 66.3 trillion won allocated for the upcoming year.
He stressed that developing the defense industry encompasses more than merely manufacturing superior weaponry.