South Korea seeks to break into world’s top 4 defence exporters

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on Monday that the country would devote a “larger-than-expected budget” in defence and aerospace research until 2030 as it sought to build the world’s fourth-largest defence industry.

Lee was speaking at South Korea’s largest-ever arms fair, the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2025, where companies showed off new unmanned and artificial intelligence-enhanced weapons from howitzers to suicide drones in pursuit of more global defence sales.

Being one of the top four powerhouses in the defence industry is by no means an impossible dream

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung

South Korea ranked 10th in arms sales as of 2023, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s top 100 arms companies data.

“Being one of the top four powerhouses in the defence industry is by no means an impossible dream,” Lee said.

“We will establish technological sovereignty by focusing investment on the development of technologies, parts and materials that must be secured independently, such as special semiconductors in the defence sector.”

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (centre, right) and his defence minister inspect military assets during a celebration to mark the country’s 77th Armed Forces Day earlier this month. Photo: Reuters

To its overseas defence partners, South Korea pledges to share not only its weapons systems but also “the technology and experience of building an industrial foundation”, Lee added.

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