DAPA Commissioner "Expects Biggest Defense Export Performance This Year"

Seok Jong-gun, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, will visit Saudi Arabia and Norway from the 19th to 24th to strengthen cooperation in the defense industry.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration explained that the visit is aimed at finding major partners in the Middle East and Europe as the first step this year to leap forward as the fourth major defense power in 2027.

"Regardless of the domestic situation, we will actively carry out the government's defense export support activities this year," Seok said. "We expect the largest ever defense export performance, including projects carried over last year."

Seok will meet with State Defense Minister Abdullah bin Bandar Al Saud in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's largest defense partner, and discuss ways for South Korean companies to participate in a large-scale modernization project of ground power being pursued by the Ministry of National Defense.

It also plans to discuss including the space sector in its industrial cooperation plan for self-propelled artillery and multi-launch rocket projects, which is under discussion with Norway for exports, including a visit to space company KSAT in Norway.