The “K-Defense” Evolution: From the Birth of the HCI (Heavy and Chemical Industries) Belt to the Global Rise of South Korean Defense Exports

Within the global theater of the defense industry, a new protagonist has emerged: South Korea. Beyond its cultural exports of K-Drama and K-Pop, South Korea's defense products have been making a significant mark on the world stage. Once a nation entirely reliant on foreign aid for defense, South Korea has evolved into a top-tier arms manufacturer and now ranks as the world's ninth-largest arms exporter. The popularity of Korean defense exports, encapsulated by the term "K-Defense" (K-Pangsan or K-Defense Industry), gained momentum especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which amplified the global demand for Korean-made weapons. This presentation delves into the historical rise of the Korean defense industry, examining the catalysts behind its growth and its profound influence on South Korea's economic, technological, and military domains, both past and present. The inception of K-Defense, which can be traced to the establishment of the dual-purpose Heavy and Chemical Industries Belt (HCI Belt) in the 1970s and sustained by a strategic and steadfast commitment to national self-reliance, has reshaped South Korea's global role. Drawing from discussions in my forthcoming book, Cornerstone of the Nation: The Defense Industry and the Building of Modern Korea under Park Chung Hee (Harvard University Asia Center, February 2024), and additional research, the presentation charts the Korean defense industry's journey from its HCI Belt origins to its current prominence. It illuminates the historical, indigenous, and contextual factors driving its rise and evaluates the potential applicability of the South Korean dual-purpose industrialization model for other global economies.

Peter Banseok Kwon is an Assistant Professor of Korean Studies at the University at Albany, SUNY (SUNY Albany). As a historian focused on modern and contemporary Korea, his research interest spans a wide range of topics, including the evolution of the Korean defense industry, the dynamics between Korea's military and civilian sectors, the interplay between authoritarian politics and civil society in East Asia, the global history of militarism, Korean nationalism, and the relationship between Christianity and social movements. His book, titled Cornerstone of the Nation: The Defense Industry and the Building of Modern Korea under Park Chung Hee, is set to be published by the Harvard University Asia Center Publications Program in February 2024. The book has received support from the 2023 Korean Studies Grant by the Academy of Korean Studies and the Publication Support Grant by the Association for Asian Studies. Before his appointment at SUNY Albany, Peter held the Soon Young Kim Postdoctoral Fellowship in Korean Studies at the Korea Institute, Harvard University. Additionally, he has held research positions at diverse institutions, including the Defense and Political Sciences Department at the RAND Corporation, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, the Academy of Korean Studies, and Hanwha International. His works have been published in the Journal of Asian Studies, Journal of Korean Studies, National Interest, East Asia Forum, Seoul Journal of Korean Studies, Korea Journal, and Journal of Social History, among others. He received his MA in Regional Studies-East Asia and PhD in History and East Asian Languages (with a focus on modern Korean history) from Harvard University.