According to a recent report, Korea is the eighth most advanced nation in the world with regard to defense science and technology. The photo shows the country’s K9 self-propelled howitzer. (Official Facebook of Hanwha Aerospace)

By Kim Seon Ah

A report has shown that Korea is the eighth most advanced nation in the world with regard to defense science and technology.

This comes from the 2024 Defense Science and Technology Level Assessment by Country published by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement on Jan. 22.

According to the report, Korea ranked eighth along with Japan in the level of national defense science and technology, up a notch from its 2021 rank. The level of the country’s defense technologies was assessed to be around 82% of that of the U.S. which topped the rankings.

Since 2008 when the assessment was first made, the U.S. has remained No. 1, followed by France and Russia (89% of the U.S. level), Germany (88%), the U.K. (87%), China (86%), Israel (84%), Korea and Japan (82%), Italy (79%), India (73%) and Spain (70%).

The nation ranked fourth in solid artillery systems thanks to its strength with the K9 self-propelled howitzer. The country ranked seventh in the maneuvering weapons system sector with K2 tank; command and control; communication; ammunition; and air defense weapons.

The technology-level assessment is made every three years. For the 2024 version, approximately 400 experts participated in 26 surveys in ten areas of weapon systems, and group discussions.

sofiakim218@korea.kr