Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, noted on the 10th that the defense industry has emerged as a cornerstone of the Korea-U.S. alliance, emphasizing the need for proactive legislative support from the political sector, including support for defense exports. The People Power Party and the government discussed measures such as special temporary permits for extended work, along with the easing of employment restrictions for military personnel to respond to international changes such as the inauguration of the Trump administration.
Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at the 'K-defense export support policy meeting' held at the National Assembly that "the defense industry is crucial for national security and the foundation of a strong South Korea. In particular, the defense industry serves as a key consolidation that further strengthens the Korea-U.S. alliance." He added, "Last November, U.S. President Trump publicly underscored the need for cooperation in shipbuilding, including maintenance and repair. We can expect that the Korea-U.S. alliance will meet a new turning point not just on land and in the air, but also at sea."
He emphasized, "For the K-defense exports to be smoothly promoted, legal and institutional support is essential, and the role of the National Assembly is heavier than ever."
He criticized the Democratic Party for its inconsistent stance regarding support for the defense industry. He said, "Just three months ago, the Democratic Party pushed for a revision of the Defense Business Act to require parliamentary approval for the export of defense materials. They even attempted to selectively assess defense exports using political standards. Additionally, because the Democratic Party has been holding back a bill to increase the legal capital of the Export-Import Bank of Korea to support the defense industry for over six months, there was a risk of significant disruption to exports." He continued, "The Democratic Party suddenly changed its position recently. On the 6th, the Democratic Party's ruling plan headquarters announced its plan to regard the defense industry as one of the three pillars of new growth engines alongside artificial intelligence and culture," adding, "If the Democratic Party is sincere about becoming a defense powerhouse, it must first take actions to repeal the detrimental laws that negatively impact the relevant industries."
Kwon emphasized, "The sustainable growth of the defense industry and securing global competitiveness cannot be achieved by the efforts of any one entity alone," stating, "The National Assembly, the government, and the defense industry must unite to lead the defense industry and strive to establish South Korea as a top defense powerhouse in the world."
The People Power Party and the government discussed special temporary permits for extended work, easing employment restrictions for military personnel and national research institute scientists, and financial support for the defense industry.
Seong Il-jong, chairperson of the National Assembly's Defense Committee, said, "We aim to discuss a temporary delegation of authority for special extended work permits." He noted, "To respond to the surge in overseas export demands from the defense industry, active recruitment of new personnel is underway. However, since the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act, we are utilizing the special extended work permit system instead of indiscriminate hiring for safety incident prevention."
He also stated, "We need to prepare measures to ease employment restrictions when military personnel and scientists at national research institutes retire." Chairperson Seong highlighted, "According to the current Public Service Ethics Act, employment restrictions impose limitations on restricted employment. However, overseas employment is exempt from this restriction. I believe this unbalanced aspect is functioning as a hindrance for our defense industry moving toward the future," urging, "The Human Resources Innovation Office needs to actively address this hurdle."
Chairperson Seong added, "The Minister of National Defense should take care of the defense sector and stand at the forefront of sales," urging the Democratic Party to cooperate in the appointment of the Minister of National Defense.
Kim Seon-ho, acting Minister of National Defense, stated, "K-defense has achieved an average of over $10 billion in orders for the past three years, showing significant growth. However, the current reality reveals various challenges such as the rapidly changing international security environment, vigilance from advanced defense countries regarding K-defense, and economic block formation around key regions," emphasizing, "To overcome these challenges, government efforts alone have limitations. It's time for national efforts to be consolidated."
Anduk Geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, noted, "The cooperation between Korea and the U.S. proposed by the Trump administration should be utilized as an opportunity to break into the world's largest defense market in the U.S.," adding, "We will closely cooperate with the industry to prepare thoroughly."
He added, "To enhance the competitiveness of the supply chain in defense exports, which is directly linked to sustainability, we will invest $200 million in 60 core technologies in advanced defense sectors such as artificial intelligence this year. Moreover, we will strengthen incentives like research and development tax benefits for core supply chain sectors designated as national advanced strategic technologies, including defense semiconductors and advanced aircraft engines and materials." He continued, "We cannot overlook the support for resolving export financing difficulties and strengthening the export capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises," stating, "This year, we will proactively respond to the export financial needs of defense companies using trade insurance worth a record high of 360 trillion won, supporting the matching of 130 small and medium-sized enterprises with overseas buyers and expanding trade."
Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor will do its utmost to listen to all necessary matters in the field and provide swift and adequate support for everything needed, including special extended work permits."