[비즈한국] Controversy is mounting as the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) and defense firms involved in the genocide in Palestine have been invited to the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (Seoul ADEX) 2025. Civic groups including World Without War and political parties such as the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Justice Party are strongly opposing Israel's participation.
Seoul ADEX is scheduled to be held from October 17 to 24. Alongside the Israeli Ministry of Defense's SIBAT, eight Israeli defense companies, including Elbit Systems, IAI, and Rafael, are set to participate. Critics argue that South Korea's largest defense exhibition should not become a promotional venue for Israeli weapons linked to war crimes.
On September 15, a United Nations commission of inquiry announced that the Israeli government and military have committed genocide as defined by international law. Previously, on July 1, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories released a list of companies involved in the Gaza genocide and the construction of illegal settlements, which included IAI and Elbit Systems.
Weapons from Israeli defense firms are being actively used in the slaughter of Palestinians. Last April, an attack by an Elbit Systems "Hermes" drone killed seven people, including aid workers. The IAI "Heron" drone has been a key weapon in the attacks on Gaza, and Rafael previously caused shock by posting a video showing the killing of unarmed men to promote its "Spike Firefly" drone.
Im Jae-sung, a lawyer at the law firm Haemaroo and a peace activist, pointed out, "Inviting not only Israeli defense firms but also government delegations to Seoul ADEX could be interpreted as a signal that the South Korean government condones or supports the Gaza genocide," adding, "The President has spoken of South Korea as a defense powerhouse, but it is questionable whether the country possesses the responsibility that should accompany such a status."
The campaign group "Resistance to Weapons Fair" and Amnesty International Korea held a press conference in front of the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, on September 23, urging a ban on Israel's participation in Seoul ADEX. During the press conference, they demanded that the government: prohibit the invitation of Israeli delegations; ban the entry of officials from the Israeli government, military, and weapon manufacturing firms; and block Israeli companies and speakers from attending. They also delivered a petition signed by approximately 3,000 people opposing Seoul ADEX to the Ministry of National Defense and the joint organizing committee.
On that day, an activist known as "Joo" from World Without War emphasized, "Israeli weapon companies promote their products as 'battle-tested' by using Palestine as a laboratory, and they must not be allowed to participate in Seoul ADEX."
However, the Seoul ADEX joint organizing committee stated that it has no plans to withdraw the invitations. Lee Kang-hee, the head of the organizing committee, said, "Because Israeli institutions and companies have participated consistently, it is not easy to block them," adding, "We plan to strengthen security for the booths due to concerns over potential clashes."
Lee Young-ah, a team leader at the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) Center for Peace and Disarmament, said, "There are cases where other countries have restricted Israeli participation in weapons exhibitions, so it is a serious problem that Seoul ADEX is providing a marketplace for the sale of Israeli weapons." In fact, France banned the exhibition of offensive weapons by Israeli defense firms at the Paris Air Show last June, and the United Kingdom did not invite an Israeli government delegation to the DSEI defense exhibition.
Criticism has also continued in the political sphere. On September 22, all members of the Rebuilding Korea Party, led by Representative Kim Joon-hyuk, held a press conference at the National Assembly to condemn Israel's genocide and demand that the Ministry of National Defense ban the entry of these defense firms and cancel their participation. Rep. Kim stated, "No matter how important defense exports may be, we must not become 'merchants of death' who sell weapons that will be used for genocide."