Hanwha Aerospace hosted a high-level strategic roundtable at its Seoul headquarters, welcoming a senior delegation from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) led by Director-General and Chief Executive Dr. Bastian Giegerich. The visit marked the first time IISS leadership has visited Hanwha since the launch of the IISS Korea Chair in Advanced Technologies, National Security and Defence last year.
The roundtable was hosted by Jae-il Son, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, alongside senior executives from Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean. The IISS delegation included Dr. Bastian Giegerich, Senior Advisor Dr. Chung Min Lee, Korea Chair Dr. Lami Kim, and Head of Advisory Rosamund de Sybel.
During the meeting, both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on the rapidly evolving global security landscape and the changing dynamics of the international defense industry. Hanwha’s three defense affiliates presented their global business strategies, while IISS shared insights from its research and advisory activities, including the Korea Chair’s research agenda.
Key topics included rising defense demand in Europe and the increasing need for enhanced air defense capabilities in the Gulf region, reflecting growing geopolitical tensions and shifting security priorities worldwide.
Founded in the United Kingdom in 1958, the IISS is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on defense and security. The organization is known for hosting the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security summit, and publishing “The Military Balance,” an authoritative annual assessment of global military capabilities and defense economics.
The IISS Korea Chair represents the first permanent Korea-focused research position within a major European security think tank. The position was jointly funded by Hanwha and the Korea Foundation, with its inaugural holder, Dr. Lami Kim, based at the IISS headquarters in London, where she focuses on research at the intersection of advanced technologies and national security.
Jae-il Son stated that Hanwha aims to go beyond being a defense exporter, positioning itself as a long-term industrial partner that collaborates with partner countries through technology transfer, joint ventures, and local production. He added that the company’s strategic cooperation with IISS will play a key role in advancing this vision.
