Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, said on the 4th that he would actively support the defense industry under the pretext of 'defense diplomacy.' Following the abolition of the financial investment income tax, the postponement of taxation on virtual assets, a shift in the de-nuclearization policy, and the flexibility of working hours, the scope is now expanding into the defense sector. As the possibility of an early presidential election has increased, this is an action to seize policy leadership.
On this day, Lee posted on social media a note titled 'K-defense must be prepared as the world is paying attention.' He noted, 'We must continuously invest in defense research and development to adapt to the diversifying battlefield and technological environment,' and added, 'At the national level, we need to identify partner countries for defense cooperation to purchase our weapons and expand defense diplomacy.'
Lee mentioned K-defense representative items such as the K2 tank, K9 self-propelled howitzer, and FA-40 light attack aircraft, stating, 'We have become a celebrity in the global defense industry that does not lag behind any competitive model in the world.' He also emphasized, 'Our defense industry is the most visible future resource of our country,' and called it 'a means to secure global security that can enhance deterrence against wars in various regions as well as our national prestige.' He remarked, 'The Democratic Party will actively support and foster K-defense for the national interest.'
The defense sector is also a field of attention for conservative circles. The People Power Party is holding a discussion forum on the same day under the theme 'domestic and foreign naval projects.' Chaired by lawmakers Yoo Yong-won and Seo Il-jun, key figures including Seok Jong-geon, the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and representatives from Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will attend to discuss the development direction of naval projects. As such, competition for leadership between the ruling and opposition parties is expected to intensify.
The Democratic Party plans to discuss related policies and legislation centered around the National Assembly's Defense Committee, which is its responsible standing committee. A party leadership official noted, 'The defense sector is an industry that has a tremendous influence across all fields, including defense, diplomacy, and economy,' adding, 'The leader is highly motivated to actively foster what he calls the 'future resource.' Relevant issues will be addressed in the Defense Committee.'
The party is also actively involved in energy-related fields. Breaking away from the Moon Jae-in administration's 'de-nuclearization' policy is key. Previously, the Democratic Party agreed on a budget of 213.8 billion won for nuclear power plants at the end of last year, which is an increase of 100 million won compared to the original plan proposed by the government. It has been a year since the opposition party independently cut the entire nuclear power budget. Last month, under the leadership of Supreme Committee member Lee Eon-joo, a meeting was held with nuclear power experts. Although Lee did not attend due to scheduling conflicts, a party official reported that he received a detailed briefing on de-nuclearization matters.