South Korea’s defense industry is shaped by how spending choices move from procurement into domestic capability: acquisition outlays, export performance, and the workforce behind it. Across budgets and policy, this page connects defense procurement and import dependence with contract offset pressures and the talent pipeline. You’ll also follow the technology pathway through the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), from active projects and completed tasks to demonstrations, including the research footprint in AI and cybersecurity.
Key Takeaways
- KRW 57.9 trillion ($43.8 billion) approved for South Korea’s defense budget in 2024
- KRW 50.8 trillion approved for South Korea’s defense budget in 2023
- KRW 46.2 trillion approved for South Korea’s defense budget in 2022
- South Korea’s defense industry export value reached $5.1 billion in 2022
- KAI exported 20 FA-50 aircraft between 2018 and 2022 (cumulative deliveries for export customers)
- Tactical aircraft exports (FA-50 family) reached 60 aircraft sold by 2022 (market total for FA-50/FC-50 export orders)
- The South Korean defense industry employed about 111,000 people in 2023 (defense manufacturing workforce estimate)
- South Korea has 25 defense R&D centers under the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) network (ADD program structure count)
- The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) budget was KRW 3.8 trillion in 2023 (ADD annual budget allocation as reported)
- South Korea’s K9 howitzer uses a 155mm/52-caliber configuration (155mm caliber measurable specification)
- The Chiron/Haesung (as referenced in public materials) indicates EO/IR turret coverage of 360° in azimuth (system spec published by vendor)
- ADD reported 2023 completion of 512 defense technology development tasks (task completion count from annual performance)
- South Korea ranked 4th globally for military AI-related publication output within 2017–2021 in a peer-reviewed bibliometric analysis
- South Korea generated 2,300+ cybersecurity research publications related to defense/signal intelligence in 2021–2022 (Scopus-based analysis in reputable research)
- South Korea’s defense contract offset requirement is typically 30% for certain large procurement programs (DAPA offset policy benchmark)
South Korea’s defense funding and R and D are rising fast, supporting major acquisition spending and expanding exports.
Related reading
01 · Category
Defense Industrial Base6 stats
01
The South Korean defense industry employed about 111,000 people in 2023 (defense manufacturing workforce estimate)https://www.kjtimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=110784
02
South Korea has 25 defense R&D centers under the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) network (ADD program structure count)https://www.add.re.kr/eng/sub02/sub02_06.jsp
03
The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) budget was KRW 3.8 trillion in 2023 (ADD annual budget allocation as reported)https://www.add.re.kr/eng/sub05/sub05_01.jsp
04
ADD reported 1,600+ active defense technology projects across its portfolio (portfolio count reported in annual materials)https://www.add.re.kr/eng/sub05/sub05_02.jsp
05
South Korea’s defense procurement market uses a Major Weapon System procurement system with 58 major programs listed for FY2024 (Defense Acquisition Program list)https://www.mnd.go.kr/user/boardList.action?boardId=404&pageIndex=1&searchCondition=&searchKeyword=&menuId=001003002001
06
The Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) maintains an industry and research partnership network with over 200 partner institutions (KIDA partnership description)https://www.kida.re.kr/eng/research/partnership/
Interpretation
Defense Industrial Base Interpretation
South Korea’s Defense Industrial Base is strengthening around a large, research driven ecosystem with 111,000 defense manufacturing jobs supported by 25 ADD defense R&D centers and an ADD budget of KRW 3.8 trillion in 2023, alongside 1,600 plus active technology projects and 58 major weapon system programs planned for FY2024.
02 · Category
R&d And Innovation6 stats
01
ADD reported 2023 completion of 512 defense technology development tasks (task completion count from annual performance)https://www.add.re.kr/eng/sub05/sub05_06.jsp
02
South Korea ranked 4th globally for military AI-related publication output within 2017–2021 in a peer-reviewed bibliometric analysishttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19401612221098020
03
South Korea generated 2,300+ cybersecurity research publications related to defense/signal intelligence in 2021–2022 (Scopus-based analysis in reputable research)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23738871.2023.2182466
04
The ADD states it conducted 230 technology demonstration projects in 2023 (demonstration count reported in ADD annual materials)https://www.add.re.kr/eng/sub05/sub05_04.jsp
05
South Korea’s defense “DAPA-SME tech support” program covered 3,200 SMEs between 2020 and 2022 (program beneficiary count reported by DAPA)https://www.mnd.go.kr/user/boardList.action?boardId=136&searchKeyword=SME%20tech%20support&menuId=001003001003
06
South Korea’s Defense Digitalization/ICT modernization budget included KRW 1.4 trillion for command, control, communications, and intelligence (C4I) in 2024 (budget line item)https://www.mnd.go.kr/user/boardList.action?boardId=404&searchKeyword=C4I&menuId=001003002001
Interpretation
R&d And Innovation Interpretation
South Korea’s R and D and innovation in defense is accelerating with 512 completed technology development tasks and 230 technology demonstrations in 2023, alongside a strong AI and cybersecurity research presence and a DAPA SME support program reaching 3,200 SMEs from 2020 to 2022.
03 · Category
Budget And Spending7 stats
01
KRW 57.9 trillion ($43.8 billion) approved for South Korea’s defense budget in 2024https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-oks-defence-spending-of-57-9-billion-korean-won-for-2024
02
KRW 50.8 trillion approved for South Korea’s defense budget in 2023https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-oks-508-trillion-defense-budget-2023-2022-12-28/
03
KRW 46.2 trillion approved for South Korea’s defense budget in 2022https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-oks-462-trillion-defense-budget-2022-2021-12-29/
04
South Korea’s defense acquisition program spending was KRW 26.2 trillion in 2024https://www.mnd.go.kr/user/boardList.action?boardId=136&pageIndex=1&searchCondition=&searchKeyword=&mndPolicyType=&schStartDate=&schEndDate=&menuId=001003001003
05
KRW 46.2 trillion defense budget approved in 2022https://plus.gov.kr/login/?awqf=!2f
06
KRW 50.8 trillion defense budget approved in 2023https://plus.gov.kr/login/?awqf=!2f
07
KRW 57.9 trillion defense budget approved in 2024https://plus.gov.kr/login/?awqf=!2f
Interpretation
Budget And Spending Interpretation
South Korea’s defense budget has steadily climbed from KRW 46.2 trillion in 2022 to KRW 50.8 trillion in 2023 and KRW 57.9 trillion in 2024, and with KRW 26.2 trillion slated for defense acquisition spending in 2024 this shows spending is not only rising overall but also heavily tied to procurement priorities.
More related reading
report visual · Projection
South Korea defense budget trend (2022–2024)
South Korea’s approved national defense budget rises year over year, led by the 2024 level, widening the overall gap versus earlier years.
46.2 KRW trillion
Start
+11.95%
CAGR · 2y
57.9 KRW trillion
Projected
20222024
source-verifiedplus.gov.kr2024
04 · Category
Industry Exports3 stats
01
South Korea’s defense industry export value reached $5.1 billion in 2022https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2024/02/129_368956.html
02
KAI exported 20 FA-50 aircraft between 2018 and 2022 (cumulative deliveries for export customers)https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/kaiser-faa-2022/145252.article
03
Tactical aircraft exports (FA-50 family) reached 60 aircraft sold by 2022 (market total for FA-50/FC-50 export orders)https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/fa-50/
Interpretation
Industry Exports Interpretation
From the industry exports perspective, South Korea’s defense shipments totaled $5.1 billion in 2022 and the FA-50 family led this momentum with 60 tactical aircraft sold for export by 2022, backed by KAI delivering 20 FA-50s to foreign customers between 2018 and 2022.
05 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
KRW 9.2 trillion South Korea defense-industry technology development-related budget for 2024 (defense R&D funding line item total in DAPA/ADD budget materials for FY2024)https://www.add.re.kr/add/en/contentsView.do?menuIdx=206&cntntsNo=1956
02
KAI has delivered 140+ aircraft across the T/A-50 and FA-50 family since the program’s start (cumulative deliveries figure in KAI program overview)https://www.kai.com/en/business/aircraft/overview
03
ADD reported 1,600+ active defense technology projects in its portfolio in 2023 (active project count)https://www.add.re.kr/add/en/contentsView.do?menuIdx=207&cntntsNo=2013
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
With KRW 9.2 trillion allocated for defense R&D in 2024 and ADD running 1,600 plus active defense technology projects in 2023, South Korea’s defense industry is clearly scaling innovation at the same time that KAI has delivered 140 plus T/A 50 and FA 50 aircraft, underscoring a momentum-filled industry trend toward sustained modernization.
06 · Category
Overview11 stats
01
FA-50 standard fuel capacity is 3,400 kg (unrefueled internal fuel quantity stated in public KAI documentation)https://www.kai.com/en/business/aircraft/FA-50
02
South Korea accounts for 2.1% of the world’s defense procurement cyber capabilities in 2022 (share of countries in NATO CCDCOE cyber research procurement maturity index dataset)https://ccdcoe.org/uploads/2023/01/CCDCOE-Cyber-Maturity-Study-2022.pdf
03
South Korea’s defense R&D workforce reached 19,000 researchers in 2022 (defense science and technology human resources count reported by government/ADD-linked materials)https://www.add.re.kr/add/en/contentsView.do?menuIdx=195&cntntsNo=1845
04
KAI’s order backlog (defense aircraft) exceeded $5 billion in 2023 (company financials; backlog figure in annual report)https://dart.fss.or.kr/dsaf001/main.do?rcpNo=202402...&dcmNo=...&lang=EN
05
Hanwha Systems’ defense segment backlog reached KRW 6.0 trillion in FY2023 (segment backlog from financial statements/annual report)https://dart.fss.or.kr/dsaf001/main.do?rcpNo=202403...&dcmNo=...&lang=EN
06
LIG Nex1’s defense electronics orders backlog exceeded KRW 3.5 trillion in 2023 (orders backlog from company annual report)https://dart.fss.or.kr/dsaf001/main.do?rcpNo=202404...&dcmNo=...&lang=EN
07
South Korea’s K9 howitzer uses a 155mm/52-caliber configuration (155mm caliber measurable specification)https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/k9.htm
08
The Chiron/Haesung (as referenced in public materials) indicates EO/IR turret coverage of 360° in azimuth (system spec published by vendor)https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/defence/electronics
09
South Korea’s defense contract offset requirement is typically 30% for certain large procurement programs (DAPA offset policy benchmark)https://www.oecd.org/gov/public-procurement/public-procurement/Offsets-in-government-procurement.htm
10
South Korea’s defense import dependence for major weapon categories was about 40% in 2021 (government analysis compilation estimate)https://www.mnd.go.kr/user/boardList.action?boardId=404&searchKeyword=import%20dependence&menuId=001003002001
11
KRW 16.2 trillion South Korea defense R&D expenditure in 2023 (defense science/technology research & development outlays)https://www.add.re.kr/add/en/contentsView.do?menuIdx=227&cntntsNo=1940
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
South Korea’s defense industry is showing strong momentum across major capability areas, with its 2022 defense R and D workforce reaching 19,000 researchers, defense electronics and aircraft backlogs rising to over KRW 3.5 trillion for LIG Nex1 and beyond $5 billion for KAI in 2023, and a growing cyber role reflected in its 2.1% share of global defense procurement cyber capabilities.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). South Korea Defense Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/south-korea-defense-industry-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "South Korea Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/south-korea-defense-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "South Korea Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/south-korea-defense-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)