Korean defense firms are stepping up their push into the Southeast Asian market by participating in "DSA 2026," Asia's largest defense exhibition, currently being held in Malaysia.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement (KRIT), and the Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA) are operating an Integrated Korea Pavilion at the DSA 2026 exhibition, held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur from Monday through Thursday local time, to support Korean companies' expansion into the Southeast Asian market.
Hosted by Malaysia's Ministry of Defence, DSA 2026 serves as a venue for international defense cooperation, bringing together some 1,400 companies worldwide along with government and military officials from more than 60 countries.
A total of 23 Korean companies are participating, including major systems integrators such as LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, as well as small-but-strong enterprises and regionally based firms.
The Integrated Korea Pavilion, jointly organized by DAPA, KRIT, and KDIA, features eight promising small-but-strong defense companies showcasing their technological capabilities.
Notable participants in the integrated pavilion include Susung Precision Machinery, which presented an automatic gun barrel cleaner; Sea Lab, which exhibited an underwater exploration robot; Sonatech, which showcased a hull-mounted sonar system for mine countermeasure vessels; and Bay Industry, which displayed boats made of HDPE (high-density polyethylene), an eco-friendly new material.
Key exhibits include battlefield awareness and detection equipment, intelligent command and control systems, tactical mobility and operational equipment, and equipment for force sustainment and maintenance.
Products targeting the operational and maintenance needs of major Southeast Asian countries, which have recently been pursuing military modernization, were also on display.
Jeong Ki-young, head of DAPA's Future Power Program Bureau, told reporters at the exhibition, "Southeast Asian countries are currently pursuing the modernization of their weapons systems." He added, "Korea offers the optimal combination of fast delivery and cost-effectiveness, which is generating strong interest across Southeast Asia."
Within the Integrated Korea Pavilion, one-on-one customized consultation sessions between foreign buyers and Korean companies are also being held in cooperation with the local office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). The program goes beyond promotion to support practical business matching and export contracts.
Kim Tae-gon, a cooperation officer at DAPA, said, "Participation in DSA 2026 will be a major turning point for our defense companies to expand their market share in Southeast Asia and build a sustainable foundation for cooperation." He added, "We will continue to operate the Integrated Korea Pavilion at major global exhibitions in France, Poland and elsewhere to further expand the footprint of K-Defense."
