Jeonbuk Accelerates Establishment of Defense Industry Innovation Cluster

Joint Investment of 49 Billion Won with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Jeonju City to Foster Materials and Components
Integrated Value Chain Spanning Research, Testing, and Procurement Centered on the Carbon Industrial Complex

Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province is joining hands with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Jeonju City to establish a defense industry ecosystem based on advanced composite materials. A total of 49 billion won will be invested to build a supply chain that covers materials, components, and finished products, supporting local companies in entering the defense market.

On the 15th, the Jeonbuk Provincial Government held a signing ceremony at the provincial office with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Jeonju City to establish mutual cooperation measures for creating a defense industry ecosystem. From the left in the photo are Joo Jihoon, Mayor of Jeonju City; Lee Yongcheol, Administrator of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration; and Lee Wontak, Governor of Jeonbuk Province. Provided by Jeonbuk Provincial Government.

On July 15, the Jeonbuk Provincial Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Jeonju City for the establishment of the "Jeonbuk Defense Industry Innovation Cluster" at the provincial office. This agreement was prepared to clarify the project implementation system and institutional roles, following Jeonbuk Province’s final selection in June for the Defense Industry Innovation Cluster competition.

According to the agreement, a total of 49 billion won will be injected, with 24.5 billion won each from the national and local governments over five years from 2026 to 2030. Through this, the province aims to build a value chain covering the entire cycle of the advanced composite materials and components industry in Jeonbuk, and to expand the foundation for cultivating defense companies and research and development.

The project will revolve around Jeonju Carbon National Industrial Complex and will be connected with Wanju National Industrial Complex and the entry site in Buan, Saemangeum. The key is to link the full process—from material development, component production, finished product manufacturing, research and testing, to procurement—into a single industry ecosystem.

To achieve this, a defense-specialized development research institute will be established, and infrastructure for research, testing, and demonstration will be expanded. There will also be a foundation created for testing and design to support global certification and access to defense procurement markets. Additionally, company support projects will be promoted, such as advanced composite materials R&D and prototype production. The plan also includes the formation of a cluster project group and local consultative body, as well as the development of a roadmap for advanced defense strategic industries, to solidify the project’s operational system.

Jeonbuk Provincial Government intends to use this project as a springboard to accelerate the convergence of its regional carbon and defense industries. In particular, by establishing a supply chain within the province capable of producing materials, components, and finished products, Jeonbuk aims to secure a foothold not only in the domestic defense supply chain, but also for expansion into the global market.

The provincial government plans to launch the project group in August to finalize the project implementation system, and from September, begin the selection process for research and development, company support, and workforce training institutions and beneficiaries. In addition, it is seeking to discover new national projects linked to local industries.

Yongcheol Lee, Administrator of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said, "Jeonbuk is a region equipped with the technological foundation to lead the localization of defense materials and components. We will provide support so that the Jeonbuk Defense Industry Innovation Cluster can become a core hub for K-defense technology supply chains."

Jihoon Cho, Mayor of Jeonju City, stated, "The convergence of Jeonju’s advanced materials infrastructure and the defense industry is expected to create new growth engines. We will actively support strengthening the competitiveness of defense companies centered on the Carbon National Industrial Complex."

Wontak Lee, Governor of Jeonbuk Province, commented, "The establishment of this cluster will become a major opportunity for local companies to enter the defense industry. We will steadily expand the industrial ecosystem so that local small and venture companies can grow in the new national defense industry sector."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.