Aju Economy Newspaper will hold the '2026 Defense and Security Forum' on November 20 to celebrate its 19th anniversary.
The forum, themed 'AI Transforming Future Battlefields: A New Leap for K-Defense Industry,' will examine the changes that artificial intelligence (AI) will bring to future warfare and discuss ways to enhance the competitiveness of K-defense and innovate military capabilities.
The government is focusing on transitioning from a manpower-centric combat system to a Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) combat system to address the changing nature of warfare and the reduction of military personnel, which are key tasks of Defense Innovation 4.0.
Shin Beom-cheol, Senior Research Fellow at the Sejong Institute, will deliver a keynote speech on 'The Role and Development Direction of Manned-Unmanned Integrated Combat Forces in Response to Decreasing Military Resources.'
Park Mae-hoon, Head of the LS Division at Hanwha Aerospace, will discuss 'Technologies and Challenges for Implementing Manned-Unmanned Integrated Combat Systems,' highlighting the core technologies and issues necessary for the realization of such systems.
Jeon Ji-yeon, Head of the Unmanned Vessel and Linear Research Lab at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, will present on 'Current Status and Prospects of Joint Development of Unmanned Surface Vessels through Korea-U.S. Cooperation,' addressing changes in future maritime warfare and the current state and potential of unmanned surface vessel development.
Following these presentations, a panel discussion will be moderated by Kim Yoon-tae, former head of the Korea Defense Research Institute (KIDA), featuring experts including Choi Gi-il, Professor of Military Studies at Sangji University; Jang Won-jun, Professor of Advanced Defense Studies at Jeonbuk National University; Yang Wook, Research Fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies; and Eom Hyo-sik, Director of Defense Security at the Korea Defense Security Forum. They will discuss strategies for enhancing the competitiveness of K-defense and innovating military capabilities.
This forum aims to diagnose the rapidly changing landscape of future battlefields centered around AI and seek strategies for sustainable growth and advancement of K-defense based on advanced defense technologies.
■ Topic: AI Transforming Future Battlefields: A New Leap for K-Defense Industry
■ Date: November 20, 2026 (Friday) 08:40 AM - 11:40 AM
■ Location: Harmony Hall, 5th Floor, Nine Tree Premier Hotel, Yongsan, Seoul
■ Hosted by: Aju Economy, Korea Defense Industry Association, Jeonbuk National University
■ Sponsored by: Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Defense Acquisition Program Administration
* This article has been translated by AI.
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