South Korea Rises to Ninth Largest Global Arms Exporter

South Korea now holds about 3% of the global arms market, becoming the world’s ninth‑largest weapons exporter. Data from the SIPRI institute show that South Korean arms exports grew 24% in the 2021‑2025 period compared with the previous five years. Major defence firms such as Hanwha, Hyundai Rotem, LIG Nex1 and Korea Aerospace Industries are rapidly expanding overseas, with combined revenues projected to reach roughly $37 billion in 2026 – four times the 2021 level.

Poland accounts for 58% of South Korean arms purchases, followed by the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. Seoul has also become the second‑largest supplier of weapons to NATO member states after the United States, providing about 8.6% of their imports. The export success is driven mainly by sales of K2 tanks, K9 howitzers, armored vehicles, missile systems and military UAVs.