President Lee: "Self-Reliant National Defense Is Sovereignty"…Vows to Secure Nuclear-Powered Submarines and More

Unveiling Self-Reliant Defense Strategy at Daehokim Jongseo Launch

Lee: "Security dependent on others is unstable"

Lee: "We will protect our seas with our own strength"

Defense Industry as a "Key National Industry":
Rapid Integrati

On September 30, President Lee Jae-myung declared, "Self-reliant national defense is equivalent to sovereignty," announcing that core forces for autonomous national defense, such as nuclear-powered submarines and manned/unmanned assets, will continue to be bolstered. He identified the defense industry not just as a foundation of national security, but also as a "key national industry" driving the economy, and outlined government plans to accelerate the adoption of civilian advanced technologies for defense purposes and to strengthen export support for the defense sector.

President Lee Jae-myung is delivering a congratulatory speech at the launching ceremony of the Daehokimjongseo warship held in Ulsan on September 30, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

Speaking at the launching ceremony for the Navy’s latest Aegis destroyer, the Daehokimjongseo, held in Ulsan that afternoon, President Lee stated, "We must defend our seas with our own strength. The same goes for our skies and land. Security dependent on others inevitably wavers if the circumstances of those providers change." He added, "Only when we can defend ourselves can we determine our own future," and emphasized, "With the resolve embodied in the Daehokimjongseo, we will press forward relentlessly toward realizing self-reliant defense."

President Lee also presented specific directions for future naval force enhancement. He stated, "Going forward, our Navy will secure key strategic assets for autonomous defense, such as nuclear-powered submarines and manned/unmanned carrier platforms." This underscored the government's advanced naval force build-up as a central plank of the autonomous defense plan.

The Daehokimjongseo launched today is the last of six domestically built Aegis destroyers, a project that began with the Sejong the Great in 2007, nineteen years ago. President Lee remarked, "It was 24 years ago that we decided to build our own Aegis destroyers. The first was the Sejong the Great, and today, the Daehokimjongseo brings this long journey to a close."

The Daehokimjongseo is named after General Kim Jong-seo, who during the reign of King Sejong pioneered the northern six garrisons by advancing to the Tumen River. The ship's name also incorporates his nickname, "Daehokim," meaning "Great Tiger."

President Lee also presented an industrial policy direction linking the growth of the Korean Navy with the shipbuilding and defense industries. He said, "There was a time when we borrowed or imported ships, but now the Republic of Korea designs, builds, and operates world-class warships independently."

He also recalled how Ulsan’s Mipo area, little more than a sandy plain half a century ago, has grown into a global shipbuilding hub, stating, "Our shipbuilding industry, boasting top-tier technology, is a source of national pride and the driving force behind Korea’s emergence as a maritime power."

The president went on to affirm government-level support for the shipbuilding sector, saying, "We will provide active support so that our shipbuilding industry can maintain a technological lead and reach new heights," and added, "We will foster shipbuilding not only as a core driver of the national economy, but as a new growth engine for regional economies as well."

"Defense Industry, a Key National Industry Driving the Economy Beyond Security"

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are leading the national anthem at the launching ceremony of the Daehogim Jongseo ship held in Ulsan on the 30th. 2026.9.30 Yonhap News Agency

Regarding the defense industry, President Lee expressed a vision to nurture it into a new growth engine for the nation, not merely as a security sector. He pointed out that the Daehokimjongseo is equipped with radar that can detect targets hundreds of kilometers away, weapon systems capable of analyzing hundreds of targets, and integrated software—stating, "Such state-of-the-art warships cannot be produced with simple shipbuilding technology alone."

He continued, "It is because our defense industry has filled each element within this vessel that it is ready to launch to sea. The defense industry has safeguarded our security—and now, it is leading our economy. The defense industry is a key national industry."

The government is also working to both enhance research and development capabilities in defense and rapidly incorporate advanced civilian technologies into the field. President Lee stated, "We will broaden the opportunities for academia, the military, and industry to research and invest collaboratively. By streamlining complex procedures and expanding support, we will ensure that new technologies are swiftly deployed." He added, "We will support exports and international cooperation so that our defense technologies become new drivers of growth globally."

From Sejong the Great to the Daehokimjongseo: Completing a 19-Year Journey of Aegis Destroyer Construction

Jung Ki-sun, Chairman of HD Hyundai, delivers a commemorative speech at the launching ceremony of the Daiho Kim Jong-seo ship held in Ulsan on the 30th, attended by President Lee Jae-myung. 2026.9.30 Yonhap News Agency

President Lee also recalled the launching ceremony of the Sejong the Great destroyer, held at the same Mipo Port in Ulsan nineteen years ago. He noted that then-President Roh Moo-hyun, who presided over the event, remarked, "I've prepared my speech well, but my heart is too full to read it properly." President Lee added, "Standing today before this proud vessel that will firmly defend our seas, I feel I can understand that sentiment."

He also linked the launching of the Daehokimjongseo to the growth trajectory of the Korean Navy. Referring to the Baekdusanham, a retired US Navy ship purchased in the post-liberation era thanks to pooled salaries from naval servicemen and the people’s donations, he said, "From the Baekdusanham to today’s Daehokimjongseo, our Navy has always stood with the Korean people." Addressing Navy personnel and civilian staff, he said, "I am immeasurably proud of all of you who have protected our seas against all adversity. The government will continue to improve your treatment and service conditions so you can focus solely on your duties."

President Lee concluded, "The Daehokimjongseo embodies the public’s ardent wish for a peacefully prosperous Korean Peninsula. The trust of our citizens will always be with her on her journey."

Also in attendance at the ceremony were President Lee and the First Lady, as well as senior officials from the government and military, members of the National Assembly, local government heads, foreign diplomats, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries executives, representatives from defense companies, students from the Ulsan region, and recipients of national honors—totaling over 350 people.

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