The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMDS), a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), spent time with Changwon City to explore how to build infrastructure for the concentration of defense industries.

On the 28th, the Korea Institute of Materials Science and Changwon City held a meeting to foster Changwon's advanced defense industry in the auditorium of the main building of the Korea Institute of Materials Science.

Through this event, both organizations took stock of the current state of Changwon's defense industry, explored countermeasures, and identified policy directions.

The meeting was attended by National Assemblyman Kim Young-sun (Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do), Hong Nam-pyo, the mayor-elect of Changwon Special City, Lee Jeong-hwan, the president of the Korea Institute of Materials Science, Cho Yeong-pa, the chairman of the transition committee for the position of mayor of Changwon Special City, Baek Jeong-han, the president of the Changwon Industrial Promotion Agency, and Park Seong-gil, the head of the Gyeongsangnam-do headquarters of the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation.

In addition, the symposium was chaired by former Director of the Agency for Defense Development Jeong Hong-yong, and the presenters included former Director of the Security Strategy Research Center at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses Shim Kyung-wook, Director of the Materials Digital Platform Research Center at the Korea Institute of Materials Science Kwon Yong-nam, and Professor Chae Jong-seo of Sungkyunkwan University.

The first presentation of the day was given by Sim Kyung-wook, former director of the Security Strategy Research Center at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, who gave a lecture on the topic of ‘Changwon, the Defense Industry Innovation City’. The second presentation was given by Kwon Yong-nam, director of the Materials Digital Platform Research Center at the Korea Institute of Materials Science, who gave a lecture on ‘Changwon’s Opportunities and Preparations Centered on the Defense Industry’, and Chae Jong-seo, who gave a lecture on the topic of ‘Changwon’s Opportunities and Preparations Centered on the Defense Industry’. A professor at Sungkyunkwan University presented on the topic of ‘Building an accelerator facility for the civilian and military defense industries.’

All presenters offered advice on various policies and future food items that could serve as cornerstones for the development of Changwon's defense industry.

Lee Jeong-hwan, the president of the Korea Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said, “Throughout history, wars have used a variety of weapons, and countries with advanced weapons and a high level of defense industry have won, expanded their territory, and become powerful nations.” He added, “Changwon is the largest defense industry cluster in Korea. If we all join forces based on our technological prowess and infrastructure, I am confident that Changwon City can leap forward as a global defense city.”