About K-Defense Monitor
South Korea is now the world’s 8th largest arms exporter. Yet, Western coverage of its defense industry remains fragmented, delayed, and often lacks the context decision-makers need.
K-Defense Monitor (KDM) exists to close that gap.
Through weekly intelligence briefs, analytical notes, and deep-dive reports, KDM examines South Korea’s defense industrial landscape end-to-end—from R&D programs and manufacturing to export campaigns and international partnerships. Coverage spans major primes, emerging startups, and key suppliers.
KDM also tracks the broader forces shaping international demand for South Korean defense products, such as developments in U.S. naval shipbuilding, European rearmament and NATO capability gaps, Indo-Pacific security dynamics, and the evolving landscape of allied industrial cooperation.
Who It’s For
Investors: Due diligence on Korean defense equities, M&A targets, and market entry opportunities. KDM provides the industrial context and competitive intelligence that financial analysis alone cannot surface.
Industry Professionals: Competitive intelligence on Korean primes, suppliers, and export campaigns. Whether you’re evaluating partnership opportunities, tracking rivals, or monitoring supply chain developments, KDM delivers visibility into a market that’s often opaque to outsiders.
Government & Policy: Tracking allied industrial capacity, procurement trends, and partnership opportunities. KDM supports professionals responsible for understanding how Korean capabilities fit into broader alliance structures and acquisition strategies.
What You Get
Weekly Intelligence Briefs: Concise, actionable updates on contracts, partnerships, policy shifts, and market developments—curated from Korean-language open source intelligence (OSINT) unavailable in English coverage.
Analytical Notes: Interpretive analysis that situates individual developments within broader industrial and strategic context.
Deep-Dive Reports: Comprehensive examinations of specific companies, programs, and market dynamics for readers requiring in-depth understanding.
Why KDM
Korean-language OSINT: Direct monitoring of company disclosures, government announcements, National Assembly proceedings, and Korean trade press—not filtered through secondary English reporting.
Industrial focus: Coverage built around how companies compete, scale, and integrate into allied ecosystems — not just contract announcements.
Strategic context: Analysis that connects South Korean industrial developments to the broader forces shaping allied defense demand.
About the Author
KDM is published by Mingi Hyun, founder of Polemos Advisors and Research Fellow in East Asian Naval Affairs at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies. He holds MA and BA (Hons) degrees from the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.
K-Defense Monitor (”KDM”) is an independent publication providing open-source intelligence analysis on South Korea’s defense industry. All content is derived from publicly available sources, including Korean- and English-language media, corporate disclosures, regulatory filings, and government announcements. Although KDM obtains information from sources believed to be reliable, it makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness, and has no obligation to update previously published content. Readers are encouraged to consult original sources before acting on information contained in this publication.
Nothing in this newsletter constitutes investment advice, a securities recommendation, or a solicitation to buy, sell, or hold any financial instrument. KDM is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, or financial institution. The inclusion of contract values, financial figures, or corporate developments is for informational purposes only. Readers should consult qualified financial, legal, and tax advisors before making investment decisions. Financial figures may involve currency conversions at approximate rates stated where applicable; actual rates may differ.
KDM maintains full editorial independence and has no commercial or contractual relationship with any defense company, government agency, or financial institution referenced herein. Views expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent the positions of any affiliated organization. KDM, its author, and its affiliates accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication. All content is provided on an “as is” basis without warranties of any kind.
© 2026 K-Defense Monitor. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, redistributed, or forwarded — in whole or in part — without prior written consent.
