Not Just Fighter Jets: South Korean President Invites Prabowo for This Collaboration

Seoul, CNBC Indonesia - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung invited Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to collaborate in the shipbuilding industry. This was expressed during the state lunch event at Young Bin Gwan, in the Blue House area, on Wednesday (1/4/2026).

The two heads of state agreed to elevate bilateral relations to the highest level. To that end, according to President Lee, they agreed to strengthen comprehensive cooperation for mutual prosperity in the fields of security and defence industry, economy and innovation, culture, and creativity.

At that time, he also expressed appreciation for President Prabowo’s support for South Korean companies, enabling them to participate in supporting the Golden Indonesia vision.

“I also look forward to strong strategic investment cooperation through the Danantara Fund, which has developed into a global-scale sovereign fund,” he said.

Additionally, President Lee mentioned the successfully implemented project, namely the joint development of the fighter jet, the KAI KF-21 Boramae. This is the development of a advanced generation 4.5 fighter jet with semi-stealth capabilities.

“As we have opened the ‘skies’ of both countries through the success of the joint fighter jet development project, I hope to strengthen cooperation in the shipbuilding sector so that our two countries can rise together as a global maritime power,” he added.

Furthermore, he also touched on partnership cooperation to connect Indonesia’s big data and South Korea’s AI technology, to realise synergy in an inclusive AI-based society.

Quoting Yonhap News Agency, South Korea launched the KF-21 development programme in 2015 to acquire domestically produced supersonic fighter jets, with Indonesia joining as a partner.

The first production model of the jet was launched on the runway last week, with Seoul planning to sign an agreement to export 16 units to Indonesia.