Gwangju-Jeonnam City is taking steps to establish a defense ecosystem that links local key industries, such as semiconductors and advanced materials, to secure new growth engines for the defense sector.
On November 11, Gwangju-Jeonnam City hosted the '2026 Gwangju Defense Industry Promotion Forum' in Yeosu, where strategies for fostering the defense industry by connecting the region's advanced industries with defense capabilities were discussed.
The forum aimed to expand local companies' entry into the defense market based on existing manufacturing and advanced technologies, and to establish a cooperative framework between large and small defense enterprises.
Attendees included Kang Myung-soo, Deputy Mayor of the Industry and Economy Department of Gwangju-Jeonnam City, along with employees from 76 defense-related companies, and representatives from 12 universities and research institutions, including the Korea Photonics Technology Institute and the Defense Science Research Institute, totaling over 200 participants.
A key focus of the forum was on practical measures to create a defense ecosystem linked to the region's industrial structure, including facilitating small and medium-sized enterprises' entry into the defense market, securing new sales channels, and attracting anchor companies in the defense sector.
The event began with an introduction to the industrial complex's location conditions and policies for fostering advanced strategic industries in Gwangju-Jeonnam City, followed by expert presentations and panel discussions on the topic 'Development Directions and Fostering Strategies for Gwangju's Defense Industry.'
Professor Kim Heung-seob from Changwon National University presented strategies for developing the defense semiconductor industry and building a defense ecosystem utilizing local key industries.
Song Young-hwan, team leader at Hanwha Ocean's Special Ship IPS, introduced technological capabilities and case studies in the field of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) for naval vessels, explaining the potential for industry development.
Professor Byeon Jae-won from Chonnam National University discussed strategies for revitalizing the defense materials industry based on the region's advanced materials sector, while Namgung Hyuk-jun, head of the Aerospace Development Center at Hyundai Rotem, outlined the technological advancements needed for next-generation propulsion systems to respond to changes in future battlefield environments.
Participants emphasized the close connections between the defense industry and various advanced sectors, such as semiconductors, materials, and precision machinery, and discussed the necessity of industry-academia-research cooperation to enhance local companies' technological competitiveness in the defense sector.
Kang Myung-soo, Deputy Mayor of Gwangju-Jeonnam City, stated, "The defense industry is a future growth sector that integrates advanced technology and manufacturing, making strategic development linked to local key industries essential. We will strengthen industry-academia-research cooperation to establish Gwangju-Jeonnam City as a new hub for the defense industry."
Meanwhile, Gwangju-Jeonnam City plans to explore the potential for linking local industries with the defense sector, focusing on key areas discussed at the forum, such as defense semiconductors, naval MRO, defense materials, and next-generation propulsion systems, while expanding the cooperation framework among companies, universities, and research institutions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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