Photo: K2 battle tank. Credit: Hyundai Rotem.
Throughout a presidency stymied in the gridlock of domestic politics, Yoon Suk-yeol 윤석열 has attempted to make government-backed international arms sales his calling card. His administration has loudly touted South Korea’s sale of weapons to Poland, calling the impeached president “The First Salesman of the Republic of Korea. 대한민국 영업사원 1호.”
Yoon’s self-coup attempt has thrown South Korea’s defense industry into jeopardy. Hyundai Rotem 현대로템 announced on December 16 that its second-phase contract with Poland for the sale of K2 battle tanks, which was due to be closed within this year, will be delayed into next year.
Several other potential contracts also evaporated. Sadyr Japarov, president of Kyrgyzstan, cut his visit to Seoul short after Yoon declared martial law, skipping a scheduled tour of Korea Aerospace Industries 한국항공우주산업 and its utility helicopter manufacturing facility. Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson also cancelled his scheduled visit to Seoul, during which meetings had been scheduled with leading South Korean defense contractors.
