Estonian and South Korean associations sign memorandum — Korea Herald
In Tallinn, the defense industry associations of Estonia and South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding. The document provides for expanding contacts between companies, seeking joint projects and technological cooperation. The agreement was concluded by the Korea Defense Industry Association and the Estonian Defense and Aerospace Industry Association during the first Korea-Estonia Defense Industry Forum, Korea Herald reports.
Cooperation beyond arms sales
Representatives of the governments, industry associations and defense companies of the two countries took part in the forum. The event, organized with the participation of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, brought together representatives of around 40 Estonian institutions and companies.
Executive Vice President of the Korea Defense Industry Association Lee Nam-woo said that cooperation should go beyond the traditional buyer-supplier model. According to him, South Korea can offer not only K9 and Chunmoo systems, but also technology transfer, local production, maintenance and repair. The K9 is a self-propelled howitzer, while Chunmoo is a South Korean multiple launch rocket system.
Angelika Tikk, director of the Innovation Department at Estonia's Ministry of Defense, noted that the defense industries of the two countries complement each other. She pointed to South Korea's production capabilities and experience in systems integration, as well as Estonia's expertise in software, cybersecurity, autonomous systems and rapid testing of new technologies.
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Technology partnerships
South Korean Ambassador to Estonia Kim Il-eung said that the countries have already created a foundation for cooperation through Estonia's purchase of K9 and Chunmoo systems. He called for closer links between small technology companies and the defense supply chains of the two countries. Diplomatic relations between Estonia and South Korea were established in 1991, and Seoul began operating a permanent embassy in Tallinn in 2024.
During panel discussions, Estonia's Milrem Robotics, Nortal and Skeleton Technologies, together with Hanwha Aerospace and LIG Defense & Aerospace, discussed opportunities to combine Estonian technologies with South Korean defense platforms and manufacturing capabilities. Promising areas included situational awareness, early warning, satellite imagery analysis and combining data from multiple sensors.
Following the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, an aggressor state, Estonia increased defense spending and is strengthening its military capabilities. At the forum, the Estonian side also presented plans to expand local defense production and attract foreign companies. South Korean manufacturers were invited to consider Estonia as a possible platform for entering the broader European defense market.
