▲ Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul on Oct. 17, 2025. (Yonhap)

Lee-defense industry

Lee appoints top aide as special envoy for defense industry cooperation

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung has appointed his chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, a special envoy to bolster defense industry cooperation and expand the nation's arms exports, the presidential office said Friday.

Kang will embark on his first mission to Europe next week to deliver Lee's letters to countries with which South Korea seeks to enhance defense industry cooperation, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a statement.

Kang is scheduled to carry out three overseas missions by the first half of next year, according to the statement.

The upcoming trip comes as "major decisions on large-scale weapons acquisition programs are imminent" in the European nations the chief of staff plans to visit, the office said, without specifying the destinations due to diplomatic sensitivities and ongoing negotiations.

Lee appointed his top aide to lead discussions on comprehensive support measures that encompass both security and the economy "in a responsible manner" with countries to which South Korea aims to export weapons, the spokesperson said.

The combined value of weapons exports targeted during the presidential official's missions is estimated at around US$56.2 billion, according to the office.

The Lee administration has established a defense export control tower to coordinate export drives as part of its goal of positioning South Korea among the world's top four arms exporters.

The presidential office said comprehensive government assistance, ranging from financial backing to industrial collaboration, has become a key determinant in winning large-scale weapons contracts globally, vowing to provide "consistent, tailored support" from the working level to top leadership to boost arms exports.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]