South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development is seeking to revise laws to allow it to share and transfer ideas and technology more easily between itself, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the private sector.

Its proposal for the revision is subject to approval by the National Assembly.

The proposal comes as the agency plans to restructure some of its key divisions to set up a new unit focusing on developing new defense technology in collaboration with private companies, including start-ups.

This is part of efforts to increase tech partnership and exchange in areas of space, cyberspace and precise guided weaponry by tearing down the “wall” between the ADD and the private sector through the revision and reorganization.

An official of the agency said it would allocate some of its 2,500 staff members to the new unit, and also request a budget increase to secure an additional 100 staff members for it.

The ADD has been moving to reorganize its divisions since last year by benchmarking the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in the U.S. where tech collaboration between DARPA and the private sector is highly common.

In Korea, national security and the lack of human resources are some of stumbling blocks to partnerships between the two sectors, the official noted.

Also, high risks in the development of defense technology and Korea’s small market are discouraging factors for private entrepreneurs and firms from doing business in the field.

The ADD was established in 1970 to develop key strategic weapons technology to strengthen South Korea’s self-defense.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)