▲ This Jan. 12, 2026, file photo shows Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back. (Yonhap)

defense minister-arms industry

Defense chief urges efforts to back S. Korea's goal of No. 4 arms exporter

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Wednesday called for efforts to boost arms exports as South Korea seeks to become the world's fourth-largest defense exporter by 2030.

"We are now racing to become (one of) the world's top four countries in the arms industry," Ahn said in a policy briefing session, also attended by the chiefs of the state arms procurement agency and senior military officials.

"We are at a stage that requires an array of means to accomplish the goal, from export support to military diplomacy," he said.

Ahn's remarks came as South Korea has been seeking to diversify export designations and the type of arms exports amid a sharp rise in exports of key weapons systems, such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the K2 battle tank.

South Korea plans to export US$20 billion worth of arms products by 2030 to account for 6 percent of the global market, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

In Wednesday's session, DAPA Minister Lee Yong-cheolconfirmed that South Korea saw its arms exports exceed $15 billion last year, snapping a second straight yearly decline.

"(South Korea) achieved (arms) exports of over $15 billion in 2025, marking a rebound in exports, in a move improving the profitability of companies and strengthening their foothold for growth."

South Korea logged a record $17.3 billion worth of arms exports in 2022 in the wake of the war in Ukraine but saw the figure fall to $13 billion and $9.6 billion in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

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