Abstract
Since its establishment in 1948, national defense and security have played a critical role in the policy making of South Korea (ROK) due to the continuous military threats from North Korea (DPRK). Even though the ROK armed forces received huge amount of US weaponry after the end of the Korea War, the defense industry of South Korea was built from the late 1960s.
With the threats of nuclear weapons and more than one million DPRK soldiers, high-tech modernization has become the solution of the ROK Armed Forces to off-set DPRK forces. South Korea launched the “Army Tiger 4.0” project to introduce emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, quantum, space, and unmanned vehicles. With these technologies, the ROK is building a “Three-Axis System” focusing on “Kill-chain,” “Korea Air and Missile Defense,” and “Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation” to counter the DPRK’s nuclear arsenal with conventional approaches. The high-tech reforms can also rebuild the ROK Armed Forces into smaller-scale, flexible elite military forces to solve urgent problems such as low birth-rate and lack of manpower. In addition, both the ROK and DPRK are focusing on the development of space technology, which has led to a “space race” on the Korean peninsula.
It's also worthy of note that the ROK’s export-oriented policy for its defense industry has built one of the most successful defense industries in democratic countries. The ROK government took a practical approach to develop next generation weapon systems and arms export. As a rising star, Korea-made weaponry has gained enviable success in the global arms market. Various advanced equipment such as the K2 Black Panther main battle tank, K9 self-propelled gun, K239 MLRS, F/A-50 light multirole fighter have received considerable international orders. Several projects such as KF-21 Boramae fighter jet and KSS-III submarine also show potential in the global arms market. Russia’s invasion in Ukraine forced the democracies to begin military buildup. The rapid changes of geopolitics, in fact, highlighted the importance of the ROK’s weapons industry.