**Government and Ruling Party to Form Inter-Agency Support Team**
The People Power Party and the government decided on the 10th to form an inter-agency support team to aid K-Defense exports. They plan to support outstanding small and medium-sized enterprises related to defense by providing approximately 5 billion KRW per company to integrate them into the global value chain (GVC).
On the morning of the same day, the People Power Party held a meeting, titled “Party-Government Consultation for Supporting K-Defense Exports,” at the National Assembly. They agreed to form an inter-agency support team, including the Ministry of National Defense, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to become one of the top four defense countries by 2027. Efforts will also be made to expand collaborative networks such as the Defense Industry Cooperation Committee with major export countries and to strengthen inter-agency networks.
To enhance the export competitiveness of defense companies, the government plans to invest 3 trillion KRW by 2027 into ten major defense strategic technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), space, advanced materials, and mixed manned-unmanned systems. Additionally, support in the form of grants up to 5 billion KRW per company for up to two years will be provided to outstanding small and medium-sized enterprises with competitive materials and components in the defense sector for their entry into the GVC.
Attending the meeting from the party were Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong, Policy Committee Chair Kim Sang-hoon, and Chairman of the National Defense Committee at the National Assembly Seong Il-jong. From the government, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-su, Acting Minister of National Defense Kim Sun-ho, and Defense Acquisition Program Administration Commissioner Seok Jong-geon were present. Participants from the defense industry included Choi Byung-ro, Executive Vice President of the Korea Defense Industry Association, and representatives from eight defense companies, such as Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, LIG Nex1, Korea Aerospace Industries, Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Poongsan.