About KDReview
Understanding KDReview's mission and data sources
Our Mission
KDReview (Korean Defense Review) is an open intelligence platform dedicated to tracking and analyzing South Korea's rapidly growing defense export industry. As Korea has emerged as a top-10 global arms exporter, the need for a comprehensive, transparent, and accessible resource has become critical for researchers, journalists, policymakers, and industry analysts.
Our platform aggregates publicly available information on Korean defense companies, their products, export contracts, and related news to provide a complete picture of Korea's defense industrial base and its global footprint.
What We Track
Defense Companies
Profiles of major Korean defense manufacturers including Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), LIG Nex1, and others.
Weapons Systems
Detailed catalog of Korean weapons systems across categories: tanks, artillery, fighter aircraft, naval vessels, missiles, UAVs, and more.
Export Contracts
Comprehensive database of defense export contracts including buyer countries, values, timelines, technology transfer provisions, and local production agreements.
Industry News
Curated news feed covering contract announcements, industry developments, policy changes, and analysis of Korean defense exports.
Data Sources
KDReview compiles data from publicly available sources. We strive for accuracy but recommend verifying critical data points with primary sources.
SIPRI
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute - Arms transfers database and yearbooks
DAPA
Defense Acquisition Program Administration (Republic of Korea) - Official procurement and export data
KDIA
Korea Defense Industry Association - Industry statistics and member company information
Media Sources
Janes, Defense News, The Korea Herald, Yonhap News, and other defense and general media outlets
Company Reports
Annual reports, press releases, and investor filings from Korean defense companies
Disclaimer
KDReview is an independent research platform. The information presented here is compiled from publicly available sources and is provided for informational and research purposes only. We are not affiliated with any government agency or defense company. Contract values and other data points may be estimates based on available reporting. Always verify with official sources for critical decision-making.