[비즈한국] South Korean defense companies are focusing their sales efforts on Chile. Notably, there is growing attention as Chile shows signs of interest in acquiring the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), which has also caught the eye of neighboring Peru—a country with which Chile has had a long-standing rivalry.
On the 28th, KOTRA and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Chile co-hosted 'Korea Defense Day 2025' at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Santiago, Chile.
This event is the first high-level defense industry exchange held since the signing of the South Korea-Chile Defense Cooperation Agreement in 2023. It is expected to serve as a starting point for strengthening future cooperation, marking a significant step in materializing defense ties between the two nations.
During Korea Defense Day, South Korean companies and Chilean defense officials gathered to participate in 1:1 business meetings and expert presentation sessions. South Korean defense firms from various sectors—including shipbuilding, aerospace, tactical vehicles, MLRS, drones, and defense textiles—participated both online and offline to showcase their technological prowess to Chilean defense representatives.
The weapon system that garnered the most attention at the event was the MLRS. As Peru, which faces Chile across the Andes and maintains a strained relationship with the country, has launched an international tender to modernize its rocket artillery, Chile has also expressed significant interest in the domestic Chunmoo MLRS.
A defense industry official explained, "We have been receiving inquiries regarding MLRS from Central and South America recently. Relations between South American countries are not always smooth. In particular, because Peru and Chile have many diplomatic and cultural conflicts, we are approaching the export of weapons like Chunmoo very carefully."
Peru initiated a private international tender this past March to replace its aging 'Type 90B' multiple rocket launchers. The Peruvian Army requested participation from potential candidates ahead of the international bidding process. Hanwha Aerospace is also being mentioned as a candidate supplier.
Chunmoo is receiving continuous praise in the global market. In particular, interest in Chunmoo has surged due to delivery delays and rising prices of the U.S. 'HIMARS' (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), the dominant force in the MLRS market. Hanwha Aerospace has already exported Chunmoo to Poland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia, rising to the number two spot in the global MLRS market.
To strengthen the export competitiveness of Chunmoo, Hanwha Aerospace is expected to pursue both technological advancement and localization strategies simultaneously. The Chunmoo platform is designed with an open architecture to be compatible with various types of ammunition, allowing for integrated operations with locally produced South American ammunition or other nations' rocket systems.
As both Peru and Chile competitively prepare to modernize their military forces, interest in adopting South Korean weaponry is gradually growing. A KOTRA official explained, "This event will function as more than just a technology introduction; it will serve as a catalyst for building initial relationships between South Korean defense firms and Chilean defense and security agencies. For our companies, it will be a golden opportunity to effectively convey the strengths of K-Defense technology to Chilean officials and explore cooperation methods and proposal directions that meet local demand."