By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
The Ministry of National Defense pledged Wednesday more support for the nation's defense exports as part of efforts to help revive the economy. It set the goal of exporting defense goods and weapons systems worth $1.3 billion next year.
In its 2009 policy briefing to President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae, the ministry said it would spearhead the establishment of a pan-governmental council to support the country's defense exports.
The ministry said it would seek closer cooperation with private firms and institutes on the research and development of defense goods. To that end, the ministry will raise the ratio of private firms' participation in defense research and development programs by 10 percent to 60 percent.
Private Firms’ More Participation in R&D
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said earlier this week that South Korea's defense exports exceeded $1 billion last year, up 22 percent from $840million in 2007.
In a bid to help create jobs, the ministry said it would increase the number of military conscripts allowed to do alternative services at industrial companies to 7,200 from the current 5,400 in 2009. Most of the surplus personnel will be assigned to small- and medium-size firms, it said.
To support the Lee Myung-bak administration's ``green growth'' strategy, the ministry will try to build military facilities using environmentally-friendly materials and equipment, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee said in his report to the president.
President Lee has called for ``low carbon, green growth'' to be the core of the country's new vision. He vowed to increase energy self-sufficiency through overseas exploration from the current 5 percent to more than 50 percent by 2050. He also pledged efforts to raise the use of new and renewable energy from the current 2 percent to more than 30 percent by 2050, with increased research funds for ``green technology.''
In the meantime, the ministry said it would spend over seven trillion won ($5.4 billion) in the first half of next year on purchasing weapons or other defense items, as well as building new apartments for its service members to help overcome the economic downturn.
The amount accounts for over 60 percent of the ministry's budget earmarked for domestic purchases this year.
Seoul-Washington Alliance
``The ministry decided to take measures to help the country tide over the economic crisis as it understands an economic recovery is a prerequisite to building a strong, advanced military,'' the ministry said.
The move is also in line with government plans to spend over 60 percent of its entire annual spending in the first half of this year to help revive the economy.
The ministry's key policy goals for this year include efforts to strengthen the country's military alliance with the United States and deter threats from North Korea along the Demilitarized Zone and the disputed maritime border in the West Sea.
``To counter any transnational or non-military threats (from North Korea), the ministry will actively seek to establish joint countermeasures with the international community through multinational security forums and reinforce its preparedness against terrorist and cyber attacks,'' the report said.
gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
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