South Korea’s LIG Nex1 will invest 370 billion won ($252.7 million) to build a production facility in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, as Seoul expands guided weapons and aerospace manufacturing capacity.
The company signed an investment memorandum of understanding with Gumi City and North Gyeongsang Province for the initiative, expanding dedicated defense production lines at the Gumi National Industrial Complex.
The project will run from 2026 through 2029 and will use existing plants to scale output, with the entire effort expected to support approximately 200 opportunities.
The new site will integrate the full manufacturing cycle, including core component assembly for guided weapons and aerospace systems, performance and system integration testing, final assembly, and pre-delivery inspection, Chosun reported.
Alongside mass production, officials said the upcoming factory will support research and testing under one roof.
“This agreement is an important milestone for Gumi to become a core production base for Korea’s defense industry and a global export base,” Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, adding the city will provide administrative and infrastructure support.
LIG Nex1 Vice President Park Bae-ho also commented on the milestone, saying that his company’s strategy positions the organization for future growth.
“We decided to invest in Gumi to prepare for future businesses, including AI, robotics, and unmanned systems, and to prepare for growing exports,” KBS quoted Park as saying.
