한국과 일본의 방위산업정책에 대한 비교연구

Abstract

This research examines development strategies of defense industry in South Korea and Japan in comparative perspective. Because of the constraints on military sector developments imposed by the U.S. Military Government since the end of the World War II, Japan employed commercial/civilian-led system of defense industry development, which system has been succeeded by South Korea. In short, the development strategies adopted by both Japan and South Korea were applied not only for military sector but also for civilian and commercial sectors. However, despite their similarities, they implemented their respective development strategies in different ways. As a result, South Korea’s defense industry experienced severe downturns in the post-Park Chung Hee era, Japanese defense industry that had been almost entirely destroyed in the early Occupation period has re-established and its technological standard is highly evaluated. This research finds how initial phase of implementing their defense industries in these two countries have affected the consequent development of their industries. Japan’s defense industry development was led primarily by civilian and commercial sectors under the structural constraints of American Occupation. In contrast, South Korea’s defense industry had been promoted from the government, more specifically, by the initiative of President Park Chung Hee and Blue House. As a result, Japanese government and business sector have continually promoted the development of Japanese defense industry even after the U.S. Occupation, while that of South Korea has experienced prosperity and decline due to its characteristics of decision-making process which depend on the will of her president.