Framework linking demand, testing and procurement seen as essential

Civil-military technology integration to define future defense competitiveness

Shin Ik-hyeon (right), CEO of LIG Nex1, and Ryan Taylor, chief revenue and chief legal officer of Palantir, sign an MOU on joint development of integrated air defense and unmanned systems solutions at Palantir's office in Palo Alto, California. [LIG Nex1]
Shin Ik-hyeon (right), CEO of LIG Nex1, and Ryan Taylor, chief revenue and chief legal officer of Palantir, sign an MOU on joint development of integrated air defense and unmanned systems solutions at Palantir's office in Palo Alto, California. [LIG Nex1]

South Korea's defense industry needs to move beyond its traditional focus on platforms such as tanks and fighter jets and pivot toward "dual-use technology" — combining civilian innovation with military demand — to reach the next level of competitiveness, an expert said.

Kim Man-ki, a professor leading KAIST's defense export program, made the case June 18 at NextRise 2026, held at COEX in Seoul. "The future of defense competitiveness will be determined not by the performance of individual weapons but by integrated operational capabilities built on AI, data and networks," he said. "Policy design that connects civilian technology with military demand is the key to achieving that."

South Korea has established independent platform capabilities with the K2 tank, K9 self-propelled howitzer, KF-21 fighter jet and submarines, but future competitiveness will hinge on the software, sensors, AI and communications technology that make those systems intelligent, Kim said. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have shown that drones, satellite imagery, AI-based target identification, electronic warfare and software updates are now decisive on the battlefield.

"Dual-use technology is not simply about technology transfer — it is a structure in which civilian innovations operate directly as core elements of the battlefield," Kim said. "A policy shift tailored to a battlefield environment centered on data and software is urgently needed."

In the United States and Europe, dual-use technology companies are already reshaping the defense ecosystem. Palantir, Anduril, Shield AI and SpaceX are meeting defense needs through AI, autonomous systems and satellite communications in ways that differ fundamentally from traditional defense contractors, while European firms such as Helsing, Quantum Systems and ICEYE are playing similar roles.

South Korea, too, needs a policy approach that goes beyond simply nurturing startups and instead redesigns the entire defense ecosystem, Kim said.

He outlined a set of policy priorities: clearly articulating the military's operational requirements; building testing and demonstration infrastructure that civilian companies can access; establishing a continuous acquisition pathway from prototype to military procurement; improving security and export-control education and regulations; creating co-development structures between large companies and startups; and linking the ecosystem to global markets.

"In a structure where technology development and procurement are disconnected, defense startups cannot grow," Kim said. "Policy must guarantee a 'path all the way through' — one that takes early-stage technology to actual operational deployment."

Kim also said defense cannot be viewed in isolation from industrial policy. South Korea's defense competitiveness has been built on the accumulated strength of industries including steel, shipbuilding, automobiles, semiconductors, batteries and AI, and dual-use technology must be developed in connection with that broader industrial base, he said.

"We need a virtuous cycle in which strong industry creates strong defense, and strong defense in turn strengthens industry," Kim said. "Dual-use technology is the connecting axis."

Addressing defense startups directly, Kim invoked the "Stockdale Paradox," urging a balance between clear-eyed realism and long-term optimism. "Start with a small technology, expand it to meet actual mission requirements, and build a snowball effect," he advised.

Ultimately, the core of the policy shift is a transition from a "platform-centered defense industry" to a "mission-centered ecosystem" — moving beyond simply developing and producing weapons to building operational capabilities that integrate data, software and autonomous systems.

"If the first success of Korean defense was securing platforms, the next stage is building a technology ecosystem," Kim said. "Without a policy shift grounded in dual-use technology, Korea will inevitably fall behind in global competition."


rimsclub@heraldcorp.com