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Military expert and former Justice Party lawmaker Kim Jong-dae delivered the 34th lecture in the Yongsan special lecture series on May 22 at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul. He spoke on “The Middle East War and Korean Peninsula Security.”
In his talk, Kim used recent developments in the Middle East and incidents in the Strait of Hormuz as case studies to show how modern warfare is evolving and what that means for South Korea’s security.
Kim argued that traditional large-platform warfare—centered on aircraft carriers and major surface combatants—faces new limits in a battlespace shaped by drones, electronic warfare, and littoral operations. He emphasized the shift toward networked systems that link smaller, more agile forces rather than relying solely on expensive, high-end platforms.
He also warned that the Middle East conflict cannot be explained by military strength alone; political, economic, technological, and alliance dynamics are all intertwined. Kim said these trends carry clear implications for security on the Korean Peninsula and urged South Korea to prepare defense capabilities tailored to the changing battlefield.
Kim outlined key priorities for South Korea’s defense: countering littoral threats, strengthening counter-drone and missile defenses, and building distributed, networked forces. While he acknowledged the importance of alliances, he stressed that Seoul must develop autonomous defense capabilities to make independent assessments and responses.
The War Memorial runs the Yongsan Special Lecture series on the third Friday of every month, regularly featuring experts in history, security, and culture. KBS N airs the lectures on “Our Knowledge Salon,” sharing the content with the public. For schedules and details, visit the War Memorial’s website (www.warmemo.or.kr).
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