The 70-year alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea will be prominently on display at Seoul ADEX 2023, with more than 70 American companies exhibiting, 14 U.S. military aircraft on static display, and a high-level delegation of U.S. diplomatic, military, and industry leaders in attendance 17-22 October at Seoul Airport.
Against a backdrop of growing geo-political tension in Asia and the western Pacific region, the strong U.S. showing, the largest international presence at the show, underscores the allies’ shared democratic values, resilience, and commitment to mutual defense.
The U.S. Commerce Department most recently ranked South Korea as the 18th largest customer for U.S. aerospace and defense suppliers, nearing $1.3 billion in purchases in 2022 and approaching 25 percent of total annual U.S. exports there.
The centerpiece of the U.S. national presence at Seoul ADEX 2023 is the USA Partnership Pavilion, organized for the sixth consecutive edition by Kallman Worldwide, Inc., in coordination with government agencies including the U.S. departments of Commerce, Defense, and State. Located in Hall D at the show’s Seoul Airport venue, the Pavilion is America’s headquarters on-site, a high-profile showcase for American exhibitors looking to maximize their exposure and impact at the event and a forum for all to share ideas and insights.
The 30-plus U.S. companies participating in the Pavilion, including 10 first-time Seoul ADEX exhibitors, represent 13 states.
All are looking to generate new business and create more jobs back home by growing exports, expanding in their in-region footprint, and/or recruiting overseas partners to establish or participate in stateside operations.
Kallman Worldwide President and CEO Tom Kallman said the strong American participation in the USA Partnership Pavilion at Seoul ADEX 2023 reflects a global trend.
“Now more than ever, success in international trade comes from partnership and teamwork. The USA Partnership Pavilion sharpens our focus on advancing America’s national security and global trade interests by building stronger relationships with our international customers,” Kallman said. “From publicly traded OEMs to small-and-medium sized enterprises, many of our exhibitors already have significant partnerships and operations in South Korea. In the years to come, many more will.”
Notable among the U.S. manufacturers, technology innovators, and supply-chain leaders participating in this year’s show are multi-national OEMs with significant in-country operations, including The Boeing Company (Boeing Korea was established in 1988 and currently employs 200); Lockheed Martin Korea (this wholly-owned subsidiary has helped the Republic of Korea with integration for major defense and civil programs to address national priorities for more than 30 years); and Northrop Grumman (an office in Seoul since 1991 anchors a strong partnership focused on these key areas of cooperation: Cyber, Logistics, Autonomous Systems, C4ISR, and Strike).
“As we commemorate the 70th anniversary this October of our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of Korea, the United States of America reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the political, economic, security, and social values that underpin our alliance to advance peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries, the Indo-Pacific and the world,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Philip Goldberg. Goldberg will attend Seoul ADEX 2023 as head of a national delegation to the show that is expected to include General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Commander, Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; and Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
