Resighting the Strategic Value of Defense Exports 

Jei-guk Jeon

jeijeon@hanmail.net​

Former Commissioner of Defense Acquisition Program Administration

​In order to have the defense industry to prosper, it must have sufficient demand and competitiveness. However domestic demands and the market have already reached the maximum stage. Now the survival of the defense industry lies in the international market. Recently, defense exports have been soaring high but it does not need to be advertised as 'future food." The defense products are to save a life, not food. It is time to judge the strategic value of defense exports and establish a final direction. Beyond economic feasibility, defense exports are expected to contribute to "establishing a foundation for timely securing defense materials in case of an emergency in the Korean Peninsula" with expanding production lines and an overseas stockpile of combat essential materials.