Expert: Indonesia reaps many benefits from military cooperation with South Korea
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Defence and international relations expert from Binus University, Curie Maharani, assesses that Indonesia will receive numerous benefits if it continues to build military cooperation with South Korea.
This view is expressed by Curie, considering Indonesia’s prior involvement in several military cooperation projects, ranging from the development of soldiers’ human resources (HR), collaboration in the field of AI, and the production of the KF-21 Boramae fighter aircraft.
“Although Indonesia and South Korea are not technology defence innovators, South Korea holds strategic value for Indonesia as a supplier, main guide, and norm collaborator,” said Curie at the opening event of the Writing Competition organised by Indonesia Strategic and Defence Studies (ISDS) themed “RI-South Korea Strategic Partnership 2026: Defence, AI, and HR Development,” as quoted from the official press release received in Jakarta on Friday.
Curie also detailed several benefits that Indonesia will obtain from this cooperation. First, as a source of access for Indonesia to obtain second-hand Western standard technology.
“Thus, Indonesia has the opportunity to improve the quality of main weapon system equipment (alutsista) technology along with its HR,” she stated.
By cooperating with Indonesia, according to her, South Korea will gain certainty in terms of product certainty, logistics, and product distribution.
Third, continued Curie, both Indonesia and South Korea can focus more on developing AI use in the defence sector.
“Indonesia needs to formulate the right strategy to maximise the potential of the partnership with South Korea,” she explained.
Curie also specifically highlighted the cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea in the development of the KF-21 Boramae. According to her, this cooperation is a strategic project because it impacts Indonesia’s defence industry independence.
However, according to her, Indonesia’s initial expectations for this project need to be adjusted to current realities.
“The development of the KF-21 remains strategic even if the benefits to be obtained may not be the same as initially calculated,” she said.
Nevertheless, Curie remains optimistic that this cooperation will bring progress in enhancing TNI’s alutsista technology.
The writing competition held by ISDS runs from 17 April to 7 June 2026 and can be participated in by all segments of society aged over 17 years. For more complete information about the competition, visit https://bit.ly/Lomba-RI-Korsel.