Bucharest: Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik announced his meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan during his visit to Romania, aiming to enhance bilateral cooperation in defense and economic sectors. Kang, serving as a special envoy, is focused on strengthening defense industry partnerships and boosting South Korea's arms exports.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kang disclosed on X that he delivered a letter from President Lee Jae Myung to Prime Minister Bolojan. The letter emphasized Lee's intention to "further strengthen the strategic partnership relations by expanding economic cooperation beyond defense exports."
In light of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Romania, Kang expressed South Korea's ambition to foster a sustainable partnership with Romania through enhanced cooperation in the future.
The collaboration between the two nations in the arms industry has intensified, particularly after South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace secured a 1.38 trillion-won (US$940 million) contract with Romania in 2023. This agreement involves the supply of K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 ammunition resupply vehicles.
Kang's visit to Romania was preceded by a stop in Poland, where he engaged with Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Marcin Kosiniak-Kamysz to deliberate on defense cooperation and equipment supplies for the Polish military.