An international event and exhibition related to the defense industry were held consecutively in Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk. The city hosted the '2025 Gumi Defense Industry Partnership (GDIP)' from the 23rd to the 24th, featuring forums and site visits with foreign military attachés and domestic defense industry representatives. Gumi-si, which is promoting the creation of a defense innovation cluster, aims to secure a global network while providing a venue for companies, research institutions, and military officials to discuss technology development and export strategies.

The event was attended by 22 military attachés from 15 countries, including Greece, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Poland, France, Finland, Mexico, the United States, Canada, Colombia, Peru, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.

● Investment of KRW 49.9 billion in Defense Industry Cluster Creation

Military attachés are military experts stationed at their respective embassies, responsible for military and defense exchange cooperation. On the 23rd, they visited production sites of leading domestic defense companies, including Hanwha Systems' new business facility in Gumi, and discussed cooperation plans with company officials. That evening, a welcome dinner hosted by Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho was attended by over 10 defense industry representatives, including those from LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems, to exchange views on global supply chain cooperation and export expansion strategies.

Finnish attaché Antti Niemelä stated, "It was a great opportunity to directly inspect the Gumi Defense Cluster," adding, "I believe Gumi has sufficient capabilities to grow into a hub of the future defense industry. I hope this event in Gumi will serve as an opportunity to expand international cooperation."

On the afternoon of the 24th, a forum under the theme 'The Future of K-Defense Opened by Cooperation' was held at the Gumi Exhibition and Convention Center (Gumico). Kang Eun-ho, a professor at Jeonbuk National University's Department of Advanced Defense Industry (former head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration), delivered a keynote presentation on 'The Present and Future of K-Defense,' diagnosing that Korea's role is growing amid the global supply chain reorganization after domestic defense exports surpassed USD 17 billion in 2022. Subsequently, Jung Young-jin, head of the Defense Technology Promotion Research Institute's Defense Innovation Cluster Project Division, emphasized the importance of preempting next-generation technology fields such as unmanned and artificial intelligence (AI)-based weapon systems and quantum communication in his presentation on 'Advanced Defense Technology and K-Defense Global Dominance Strategy.'

Lee Gun-hyuk, head of production at LIG Nex1, shared recent export cases to the Middle East and Southeast Asia under the theme 'A New Formula for Expanding K-Defense Exports.' Kim Ho-sung, deputy head of Hanwha Systems' Marine 2 Business Division, introduced examples of surface unmanned vessels under development for the first time domestically in his presentation on 'Development Status and Future Directions of Marine Unmanned Systems.'

Gumi-si plans to invest KRW 49.9 billion by 2027 to create a defense innovation cluster. The city is pursuing 10 detailed tasks, including building specialized research and testing infrastructure for defense unmanned and manned complex systems, nurturing defense-specialized personnel, supporting the commercialization of new defense technologies, and supporting defense startups and industry entry. Recently, the Nakdong River unmanned surface vessel testbed was completed, providing a demonstration test environment equipped with mooring and launching facilities. The Advanced Defense Industry Promotion Center, scheduled for completion in February next year, plans to establish an integrated test and certification support system for the entire cycle. National Kumoh Institute of Technology and Kyungwoon University are operating defense-specialized development research institutes and are engaging in research and development and specialized personnel training through a 'university-company-research institute' cooperation project worth approximately KRW 5 billion. Gumi Electronics and Information Technology Research Institute is developing dual-use components and small demonstration systems to verify applicability in military fields.

Over the past three years, Gumi-si has signed investment memorandums of understanding (MOUs) totaling KRW 580.2 billion with major defense companies such as LIG Nex1, Hanwha Systems, Samyang Comtech, Woory, Victek, Zenoco, RFcore, and Shinbo. Through this, the city plans to expand the defense economic ecosystem base, create jobs for local youth, and accelerate the transition to advanced industries. Gumi Deputy Mayor Jeong Seong-hyeon stated, "We have an industrial base capable of supporting the entire defense cycle from research and development to testing, certification, startup, and investment," adding, "We will establish Gumi as a defense industry hub encompassing research, production, and export by expanding cooperation with domestic and international companies."

● Largest-ever Aerospace Defense Logistics Expo Simultaneously Opens

The '2025 Aerospace Defense Logistics Expo (GADLEX),' held concurrently with GDIP, showcased the current state and challenges of the Gumi defense industry. Hosted by Gyeongbuk Province and Gumi-si, this year's GADLEX featured 204 booths from 94 domestic and international companies and institutions, displaying the latest defense technologies and industry trends. At the 'Offset Trade-linked Export Consultation Meeting,' attended by 10 global defense companies, including Airbus, RTX, and Thales, consultations for overseas expansion of local defense SMEs took place. The Defense Industry Mutual Aid Association, Defense Material Trade Support Center, and Korea Testing Laboratory conducted one-on-one consultations on government support projects, and various programs such as the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Airport Logistics Industry Forum, UAM·Drone Seminar, Investment Briefing, and International Drone Industry Forum were held.

The 'Youth and University (Graduate) Student Talent Recruitment Briefing,' organized for the first time this year, saw participation from Hanwha Aerospace, LIG Nex1, KAI, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, conducting on-site recruitment consultations. The event is evaluated as an opportunity for Gumi-si to inspect and supplement the entire defense cycle support system, encompassing research and development, testing, export, and talent development. Mayor Kim stated, "GADLEX simultaneously showcases the present and future of the Gumi defense industry," expressing hope that "local companies will expand globally and that young people will find new opportunities."

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