REPORTER’S NOTEBOOKCN-235 takes flight as ADEX 2025 lifts Korea’s defense industry ambitions

A CN-235, right, and a C-130, left, sit on the runway at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday. Courtesy of the Republic of Korea Air Force

The roar of an aircraft engine, even a distant one, is a sound that vibrates through the soles of your shoes and straight into your chest. There is nothing subtle about it.

Standing on the tarmac at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam just south of the capital, that noise was the constant, visceral backdrop to the world of high-stakes negotiations.

My assignment was to witness firsthand Korea’s defense industry gaining momentum. Before boarding a CN-235 transport aircraft for a demonstration flight, I sensed the event’s inherent duality: The high-stakes trade show, centered on some of the most visceral and thrilling machinery, mirrored the vitality of the sprawling Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) being held in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province north of Seoul.

This year’s ADEX coincides with Korea’s defense exports continuing their dramatic, multi-billion-dollar surge. The biennial event shattered previous records, attracting 600 companies from 35 countries to KINTEX in Goyang. The largest edition in its history, the expo’s palpable energy signaled that Korea was not merely hosting a defense show but actively asserting itself as a rising global arms player.

Before the industry-focused sessions began Monday, the exhibition welcomed the public from Friday to Sunday at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, showcasing fighter jet displays and an air show by the Black Eagles, the Korean Air Force’s aerobatic team.

Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic team flies over an exhibition KF-21 during the 2025 Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Yonhap

But the highlight for me came on the runway, where I had a rare chance to board the CN-235 — one of the Republic of Korea Air Force’s main transport aircraft.

Jointly developed by Spain and Indonesia, it first flew in 1983 and has a maximum takeoff weight of 15.1 tons, a cruising speed of 450 kilometers per hour and a range of 2,870 kilometers.

The aircraft can transport troops, equipment and supplies to operational areas, and conduct airdrop or air-landing missions. It can also perform illumination support to aid night reconnaissance.

In 1998, when a North Korean semi-submersible carrying armed agents appeared off the coast of Yeosu in South Jeolla Province, a CN-235 joined the pursuit by firing illumination flares.

Saturday’s flight was scheduled for 35 minutes, taking off from Seoul Air Base and passing over Guri, Yangpyeong and southern Seoul.

Once on board, it quickly became clear that comfort was not the top priority. Unlike commercial airliners, the seats faced away from the windows, limiting the view. Still, there was more space than in a typical economy cabin, thanks to the extra legroom and the lack of armrests.

As the propellers began to spin, vibrations rose through the metal floor and into my seat, while a faint smell of fuel lingered in the cabin.

Participants board a CN-235 transport aircraft at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday. Courtesy of the Republic of Korea Air Force

After lifting off, every phase of the flight felt like watching a YouTube video at 1.25 speed — similar to a commercial flight, but clearly faster. Each time the aircraft banked, both the fuselage and my body tilted sharply. As we descended for landing, I felt the same stomach-dropping sensation you get when falling from a great height.

The sky was overcast, leaving little to see. But there was one experience impossible on any commercial flight — flying low over southern Seoul near Lotte Tower.

From such a low altitude, the endless rows of identical apartment blocks and the Han River from above offered a strangely fresh perspective on a city I thought I already knew.

But for our pilot, Maj. Yoon Jung-han, flights are about responsibility, not spectacle.

“Completing the mission is important, but so is safety,” Yoon told The Korea Times. “I constantly work to deepen my expertise to ensure accident-free flights, and I train to make accurate decisions and handle emergencies without hesitation when I’m in the air.”

But sometimes, flying offers unexpected moments of joy.

“During a winter airdrop mission in Jeju, I had to circle south of Mount Halla due to heavy air traffic. I could see the snow-covered mountain and Baengnokdam (the crater lake at the summit) in one sweeping view. Under the clear winter sky, the mountain glowed white — a sight beyond words.”

When asked what he keeps in mind during missions, he shared two principles.

“On every mission, I remind myself of two rules: achieve the objective to the maximum extent within safe limits, and if I’m unsure, don’t stay silent — ask the person next to you.”