Minister Jo Tae-yeol's visit to Poland was accompanied by a delegation from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. It is reported that Minister Jo will mention the second contract for Hyundai Rotem's K2 tank during the meeting with Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski on the 5th (local time). Expectations are rising in the defense industry for the successful conclusion of the second contract soon, as meetings have taken place from government officials to the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the Minister.
According to military authorities and the defense industry, Minister Jo will hold a South Korea-Poland foreign ministers' meeting with Minister Sikorski that day. This is the first visit by a foreign minister to Poland in 18 years. Minister Jo is also scheduled to meet with Polish Minister of National Defense Włodzimierz Czarzasty afterward. Jo Hyun-ki, head of the foundational strategy division of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and other delegation members will also be present at each meeting, where they are expected to discuss the prompt conclusion of the K2 tank second contract and cooperation regarding Poland's new submarine project.
The industry views it positively that the minister is visiting Poland and mentioning the second contract. There are also analyses suggesting that Poland desires a visit from South Korea's top leader due to negative public sentiment regarding the purchase of South Korean weapons. One defense industry official noted, "The purchase of large amounts of weapons systems is significantly influenced by public opinion and political circumstances, and continuous cooperation among high-ranking officials of the two countries can dispel concerns."
Suk Jong-geon, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, visited Poland last December. Deputy Minister Jo also went to Poland a month later in January to check on the progress of the contract and confirm cooperation. It is unusual for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration to publicly reveal that it is collaborating with a specific country before a contract. Acting President Choi Sang-mok also emphasized cooperation in defense and security during a phone call with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on the 12th of last month.
Initially, the second contract for the K2 tank was expected to be finalized by the end of last year. However, negotiations between the Polish government and the state-owned defense company PGZ have dragged on, causing delays in the second contract for the K2 tank. The second contract has a two-pronged structure. Discussions on technology transfer and the scope of local production must be finalized between Hyundai Rotem and PGZ, and discussions on the total acquisition amount must be concluded between PGZ and the Polish government to reach the final contract. Currently, negotiations between PGZ and Poland are at a conclusion stage, and there are predictions that the K2 second contract will be concluded soon as cooperation is reaffirmed by high-ranking officials of both countries.