Korea’s dependence on overseas nuclear materials for defense reaches 79%

It has been revealed that South Korea’s overseas dependence on ten key defense materials, including heat-resistant alloys and titanium alloys, has reached 79 percent.

On May 8, the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) released its report titled “Analysis of the Status of Defense, Nuclear Material Independence, and Supply Chain Improvement.” securing a stable supply chain for nuclear materials for defense is deteriorating.”

The report identified key factors complicating the defense nuclear materials supply chain, including the aftermath of COVID-19, the protracted ‘two wars’ in Europe and the Middle East, large-scale natural disasters and the deepening disconnect of the global supply chain.

It has been found that most of the essential defense nuclear materials crucial for the development and production of advanced weapons are dependent on imports. According to 2022 data, 78.9 percent, or 668.4 billion won, of the total purchase amount of 847.3 billion won ($620.73 million) for the ten types of major defense nuclear materials are for import.

Of the 10, eight types of imported metal materials account for 80.4 percent, or 650 billion won, of the total purchasing amount of 808.6 billion won, while two types of imported non-metal materials account for 47.5 percent or 18.4 billion won to finish. , out of the total tender amount of 38.7 billion won.

The majority of metal materials are highly dependent on imports from abroad. Fully 100 percent of magnesium alloys and heat-resistant alloys are imported, 99.8 percent of titanium alloys and nickel and cobalt are imported, and 94.9 percent of aluminum alloys are imported.

It appears that both composite materials and ceramics, which are non-metallic materials, are imported at 47.4 percent and 51.3 percent respectively. This analysis suggests that a significant portion of defense nuclear materials are highly vulnerable to changes in the global supply chain.