【By Observer Net, Qi Qian】
On November 25, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol concluded his visit to four countries in the Middle East and Africa and departed for South Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency and Nikkei Asia, during this trip, Yoon Suk-yeol worked to promote South Korean military weapons to countries such as the UAE, Egypt, South Africa, and Turkey, and stated that he had achieved "practical results." The report noted that as one of the top ten global arms exporters, South Korea has been seeking to enhance its international standing in the defense and military industry and achieve economic diversification in exports.
The report said that on November 17, Yoon Suk-yeol arrived in the UAE, starting the first leg of his trip to four countries in the Middle East and Africa. Along with Yoon Suk-yeol were senior executives from South Korean companies including Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Group, SK Group, and Hyundai Motor.
On the 18th, South Korea and the UAE signed seven memoranda of understanding (MOUs) covering important fields such as defense, military, artificial intelligence (AI), nuclear energy, health, and medical care. According to the introduction, the two countries will establish a framework for cooperation in the defense industry, including joint development, local production, and export to third countries. In the field of nuclear energy, they will cooperate in developing small modular reactors and technologies combining nuclear energy with AI, planning to enter the global market.
President Yoon Suk-yeol met with the President of the UAE on the 18th. Yonhap News Agency
Nikkei Asia reported that the UAE is the primary target for South Korea's efforts to expand arms exports. For South Korea, defense equipment offers a way to diversify the economy, as the country's economy is currently highly dependent on semiconductors and other electronic products.
On the 18th, Kim Hoon-sik, chief advisor to the president, stated that these deals would build a foothold for South Korea to open up new markets not only in the Middle East and Africa but also in Europe, North America, and other regions. The UAE has previously purchased defense systems from South Korea, including surface-to-air missiles. The UAE showed interest in South Korea's first domestically developed fighter jet, the KF-21, which is planned to be fully produced in 2026.
Kim Hoon-sik said that South Korean companies may receive more than $1.5 billion in defense orders.
Last Thursday, Yoon Suk-yeol met with Egyptian President Sisi and proposed expanding defense industry cooperation, including joint production of the FA-50 light attack aircraft and anti-tank missiles. On Monday of this week, Yoon Suk-yeol met with Turkish President Erdogan, and both sides signed an MOU on nuclear technology cooperation.
According to Nikkei Asia, in recent years, the South Korean government has included arms exports as part of its national strategy. South Korea is one of the few countries that maintains the capacity to produce land warfare weapons, and developing the defense industry is crucial to reducing dependence on U.S. forces stationed in South Korea.
Top 10 Arms Exporters by Global Share from 2020 to 2024. Nikkei Asia, illustration
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, South Korea ranked 10th in defense exports from 2020 to 2024. The government aims to develop its defense industry to approach the levels of the United States, Russia, and China.
The report analyzed that the South Korean defense industry often proposes joint production with local companies, second-hand sales, and financial support. Defense sales are sometimes tied to economic aid. At the same time, South Korean weapons are relatively inexpensive, considered an advantage in increasing demand from developing countries.
In addition, South Korea is eager to expand exports to Middle Eastern countries, covering areas such as cosmetics, food, and cultural content. In 2014, South Korea signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the UAE, which is expected to gradually eliminate tariffs. This will give South Korean companies an advantage over the United States, EU, and Japan, which have not reached economic agreements with the UAE.
On the evening of the 24th, while on a chartered flight from South Africa to Turkey, Yoon Suk-yeol told reporters that he had achieved "very specific and tangible results" in the defense industry cooperation with the UAE. When asked whether South Korean companies could secure defense contracts in the near future, he replied, "We need to show export performance. Actual results will come soon."
Yoon Suk-yeol also said that many foreign leaders he met during this visit and at other multilateral diplomatic occasions showed strong interest in South Korea's defense industry, particularly in joint R&D, production, sales, and market development.
He said, "The demand for the defense industry in various countries is growing faster than expected," and predicted that the South Korean defense industry market will continue to grow.
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