South Korea and Poland expand defense cooperation: "South Korea is our most important ally after the United States"

President Lee Jae Myung held a summit with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at Cheong Wa Dae, the Blue House, on the 13th and agreed to upgrade relations between South Korea and Poland to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). In particular, President Lee and Prime Minister Tusk concurred on further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in the defense industry. Citing exports to Poland of the K2 Black Panther main battle tank, the K9 Thunder, the FA-50 light attack aircraft, and the K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system, President Lee stressed that "our defense industry cooperation is growing ever stronger" and proposed broadening collaboration in future-oriented areas such as battery infrastructure, science and technology, space, and culture. Prime Minister Tusk responded, "For Poland, South Korea is the most important ally after the United States of America (United States), and the defense industry in particular plays that role."
■ "South Korea and Poland to further expand defense cooperation"
After concluding the summit with Prime Minister Tusk at Cheong Wa Dae, the Blue House, President Lee said in a joint press statement, "Poland has become the fifth-largest trading partner for South Korea among European Union (EU) member states, and South Korea is Poland's top investor among non-European countries," adding, "With the signing in 2022 of a framework contract worth about 44.2 billion dollars, our defense cooperation is also leaping toward the future. Our mutually beneficial defense industry cooperation will continue to expand."
He went on, "Building on the deep trust our two countries have accumulated, we have decided to elevate our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)," and explained, "The joint statement reflects our firm and clear determination to further strengthen cooperation in politics, the economy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, and to broaden the horizon of cooperation into comprehensive and future-oriented fields such as advanced industries, science and technology, space, energy, and infrastructure."
South Korea and Poland had earlier signed in 2022 a comprehensive defense contract worth about 44.2 billion dollars covering the K2 Black Panther main battle tank, the K9 Thunder, the FA-50 light attack aircraft, and other systems, and have since been implementing follow-up contracts in stages. In December last year, Poland and Hanwha Aerospace signed a third export contract worth 5.6 trillion won for the South Korean K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system. With this summit, attention is now turning to whether additional defense cooperation will follow, including potential exports of the KAI KF-21 Boramae, South Korea's next-generation fighter jet, whose first mass-production unit was recently rolled out.
President Lee stated, "I stressed that stable implementation of the framework contracts already signed is essential for deepening and advancing our bilateral defense industry cooperation."
The president also asked for support regarding South Korean companies' expansion into Poland. In detail, he said, "South Korean electric-vehicle battery investors in Poland are beginning full-scale entry into the Energy Storage System (ESS) market and diversifying their portfolios," and continued, "I requested the Polish government's attention and active support for our companies. I also asked for special consideration so that our firms can participate in major infrastructure projects in Poland, such as the new airport connectivity project and the Warsaw Tramway Replacement Project."
■ South Korean defense companies also turn out in force
After the summit, the two leaders discussed cooperation plans over an official luncheon. The luncheon drew attention as key figures from South Korea's defense and broader industrial sectors turned out in force, including Lee Yong-bae, Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Rotem; Son Jae-il, Chief Executive Officer of Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems; Kim Jong-chul, Chief Executive Officer of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI); Han Man-hee, head of the International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK); and Lyu Jae-cheol, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LG Electronics.
At the event, President Lee said, "As Europe moves to strengthen its defense capabilities, I hope that defense cooperation between our two countries will contribute to bolstering Poland's national defense and the competitiveness of its defense industry, and that South Korean companies will help drive Poland's economic development."
Prime Minister Tusk also emphasized, "We agreed on the need to strengthen our strategic cooperation across many areas, including not only advanced technologies such as digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and space exploration, but also energy, infrastructure, and transportation."
During the expanded meeting, Prime Minister Tusk noted, "Regarding beef exports, President Lee said he would move quickly to resolve the issue," and proposed that cooperation in the food industry be strengthened as well. In the joint press statement, he added, "We also decided to step up cooperation in the food industry. I am very grateful that President Lee fully understands our expectations about expanding access for Polish products to the South Korean market." However, Kang Yu-jeong, Chief Spokesperson at the Chunchugwan Press Center at the Blue House, later told reporters when asked about the beef issue, "Rather than a firm commitment, the response was that the matter would be reviewed."
The two leaders also discussed international affairs, including the war in the Middle East. President Lee stressed, "Both our countries agreed that stabilizing global supply chains is crucial to addressing the crises triggered by the war in the Middle East, and we resolved to continue the necessary cooperation to that end."
This is the first visit to South Korea in 27 years by a Polish prime minister, who heads the cabinet under Poland's system of semi-presidentialism. President Lee personally welcomed Prime Minister Tusk at Cheong Wa Dae, wearing a navy necktie with white and red diagonal stripes symbolizing the colors of the Flag of Poland, underscoring a message of cooperation and respect as comprehensive strategic partners.
Prime Minister Tusk, who began his career as a worker, also expressed affinity by highlighting common ground with President Lee. In particular, he highly praised, in indirect terms, the shared history of pro-democracy struggle in South Korea and Poland and South Korea's peaceful resolution of the December 3, 2024 martial law crisis.
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun and Sung Seok-woo Reporter