Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Head to keeps.com/SIMON to get a special offer.

As a Polish I am very happy that we found such a great partner like South Korea.

No surprises here. The Republic Of Korea has for years had some of the best soldiers in the world. I was a crew chief and gunner in a Huey helicopter during the Vietnam/American conflict and I saw how the Vietnamese fought, the Americans fought and how the ROK soldiers fought. You would often have to force the Vietnamese off the chopper. Americans would wait until it landed and followed training upon exit. The ROK soldiers would jump out while the chopper was 10 ft. in the air and then just disappear into the bush (pilots LOVED ROK Marines, quick in and out). ROK's are tough, brave and extremely dedicated to their missions and their nation. They are among the fiercest fighters on earth.

I served two tours in Korea while I was in: 03-04, and 07-08. Have you ever seen Korean people working? It is a thing to behold. Their work ethic is among the best you will ever know. That's why all of this is fully believable to me. I know these people, and I've seen what they're capable of. To Russia, China, and North Korea, underestimate this country at your own peril. 🇰🇷🇰🇷🇰🇷

As a former US Marine, I can tell you that the Korean rock marines as we call them are hard-core and I would fight with them any day

The Koreans have a similar political situation to Poland. I would like Poland to follow Korea's path. Greetings from Poland 🇰🇷🇵🇱

I spent 2 years in korea with the army. The ROKA is an impressive organization, and I worked with their artillery unit. Very impressive.

My dad was in the 82nd Airborne in South Korea. He loved those people. I wish that my dad could have lived to see that S. Korea became a great country!

I think one also needs to take into account South Korea's growing global soft power. It certainly helps, if large portions of the populations of partnering countries listen and watch K-pop and their TV-series, and eat Korean food. If you sneer at this idea, just consider how important soft power is for the USA, and how that depends on things like Hollywood, McDonalds and Coca Cola. I think that a very large portion of young adults in the west would support South Korea in a conflict. Because there is an emotional connection there!

My grandfather was a medic, Korea, 1952-53. Chorwon. Never talked about it. Imagine he saw bad stuff, he was there during various battles...he died of old age in 2016. 25 ID/90 FAB. I'm a bit proud of ROK for upping their arms and defense game. It is good to know we have a strong ally in Korea. It's relieving.

Australian here, we just purchased 129 AS21 Redback IFVs ( a version of the K21 ) at around 5-7 billion AUD. We're also getting 30 AS9 Huntsman ( K9 Thunder ) SPGs and 15 AS10 AARVs. Most of which will be built under license here in Australia. Looking forward to seeing some great new Korean kit! :D

As an American I have a huge respect for South Korea. Many of the United State’s European Allies only like us when they need us, but South Korea isn’t like them. South Korea is the best ally because they actually care about the America and doesn’t just use us like war dogs. South Korea gives Americans hope that we actually have a true friend that isn’t just using us. 🇺🇸❤️🇰🇷

I was in a US Infantry platoon in South Korea (02 to 03) The ROK soldiers were among the toughest soldiers id ever seen.

Served one tour in Korea right out of basic 99-00 and I greatly respect the Korean people. Some of the best friends were ROK soldiers.

( I am a South Korean) South Korea have not gambled. (23:11 "so far the Gamble's paying off") When I was young the defense budget was over 4 % (very high for a poor country...) It is now around 2.7%. But R&D and production have been very efffective, efficient and stable. 1) They have spent money on the best project, at a given moment. In the early 70s, rifles(lisence-production of M-16) and 105mm artillery(the US taught us the technology). In the 80s and 90s, tanks and howitzers and ships. in the 2000s, submarines and missiles and trainer aircraft (props and jets). In the 2010s, satellites and general enhancement of many categories of weapons. 2) And big companies have been doing this out of patriotism, not for big money. They tend to think defense biz as a prestige or a medal worthy of headache. For example, Samsung developed aerospace[related technology and 155mm K-9 upunitl about 2015 and sold the company to Hanhwa. LIG (which is a 'little' Raytheon) is the only company the owner rescured when the group was hit by a severe recession at the end of 1990s. Hyundai has lost a lot of money for K-2 tank. The world-best producer of ammunintion, Poongsan, do not earn much.. it's main biz is non-fero metal like copper. For them, ammo biz is only for honor. 3) It is step by step development. For example, AESA radar. Before SK developed it, it ahd already dominated global 5G communications equipment market. The technology is the same. GaN semiconductors... noise filtering... Before they came out with 1,500 hp powerpack (a set of engine and transmission for tanks) they had made world-best class engines and transmissions for cars. 4) With export or without it, SK will keep on this pace, because it knows the real adversary is China. (In the Korean War, China sent 3 mil. soldiers.) This is why SK is the only country (except the US) in the West which has been developing 5 layer termianl stage (lower than 150 km altitude) ballistic and air missile defense(BAMD), land based. And it is also the only country (except the US) which has been developing maritime(destroyer and corvette based) BAMD. Why indigenous?Because they want deploy a lot but the Patriot and THAAD and Aegis made by the US companies are too expensive... This is why they are the only country (except the US) in the West which is developing high-end drones and several kinds of engines for them. I mean high-end like MQ-9 and RQ-180 and CCAs of the US. They want to have hundreds of them, but (especially for the amred model) the export-import is forbidden by the MTCR(missile technology control regime). I call the US-ROK alliance 'the WOW alliance': With Or Without the US'. The Alliance becomes stronger only when SK gets stronger.

I had two tours in South Korea and got to know them a bit. They are smart enough to know the threats they face without any any illusions and so do what they must to protect themselves. They're a good, trustworthy and extremely honorable people who are 100% worth our (US) defending.

Korea has always been an impressive nation

My Dad was in the Korean War in 3 RAR and fought at Kapyong in 1951. Hanwha is building those129 Redback IFVs for the Australian Army just up the highway from me. 🇰🇷 🇦🇺

South Korea has quite a large military force for her size/population, so ample indigenous demand for competent and reliable weapon system. She also has good manufacturing industrial capability like automobile, shipbuilding, electronics, semiconductor, smartphone. South Korea is one of capable arms manufacture of NATO weapon with good performance and reliability at affordable price and fast delivery. For medium regional powers who want buy advanced NATO weapon to strengthen its defense power, South Korea is sprawling shopping mall of modern weapons, vehicles, ships, firearms and ammos. Diplomatic relations with potential buyers and USA / EU countries are also robust and good.

South Korea out here playing 4D chess

[Imagine] Benz makes tanks... Volkswagen makes amored vehicles... Lufthansa makes high-end airborne drones... a couple of world largest commercial ship (floating LNG factories tec.) builders make submarines and destroyers.... TSMC is behind the military chip producers... One of the world largest copper/non-fero company makes ammos and a series of very smart infantry-hand-carry drones. Once-a-big-group, after hit hard by a recession, reorganized itself into a little Raytheon.... [Imagine] Numerous medium size tech companies work with these big ones.. [Imagine] Numerous software engineers (South Korea is a very exceptional country where even Google or Facebook has to compete with the indigenous service providers) are coding the lines for aircrafts, radars and missiles... [Imagine] These guys feel existentially threatened by China and NK....and by Russia

Korean culture offers a lot to learn from. They (strive to and tend to) raise their kids and build their industries and communities very "intentionally" and with a respectful harmony, humility, discipline.

I’ve driven Kia’s since 2000. I love them. Very reliable Wonder if the tanks have a 10 year warranty? 🧐

South Korea has definitely played the long game here. Very smart.

South Korea have contracts to build new logistics ships for the RFA, so yards back home can focus on building next gen frigates. As stated in the video South Korea has various contracts to modernize the Polish Armored Corps. In short South Korea is helping numerous US aligned nations modernize their militaries in preparation for future conflicts. If a 'Asia Pacific Treaty Organization' (A.P.T.O, pronounced App-Toe) were to be established South Korea has done more than enough to earn themselves a critical position in the new alliance.

Korea is a country with lots of potential in the next 50-100 years. The doomsayers of Korea's decline may point to its aging and declining population, but I am sure Korean Reunification, along with policy changes for the youth's economic prospects, will truly catapult the peninsula into the top 5 great powers and even reverse its demographic trend. I cannot even imagine how overpowered Korea will be by combining the brains and agriculture in the South with the manpower and mineral resources in the North.

The ROK Marines and soldiers were already no joke but now with the capability to receive potential resupply of their own equipment from abroad they're going to truly be a force to be reckoned with if push comes to shove. Korea has done a stellar job of ramping up its international ties and if they can maintain this momentum they will definitely be a lynch pin in the region regardless of what China does.

April's Fools Day, Simon needs to wear a toupee and pretend nothing has changed.

Much more than just K-pop and spicy food, Simon. Another excellent video!

They have always put their troops into action since the Korea war to help the USA and others like in Vietnam, Iraq and other places. They have built some of the new ships for the RFA in the UK and could be building the new 155mm tracked guns in the future for for UK army. They also build an EXCELLENT shotgun called the USAS 12 there's only a handful of them in the UK and I got to shoot one in Dorset before and it was GREAT to use. Thank you for the video. 👍

In East Asia, Korea and Japan are the two most powerful allies of the United States. The recent development of weapons and the speed of production in Korea are quite impressive. In particular, Korea has never had major problems such as war and other countries, and there is no country that is religiously problematic. This is a huge advantage for arms exports.

Ooh good to see my home country on my fav channel. Keep up your good work mate. You're my favorite channel to listen to while taking shower lol😂. Big cheer from Korea!🇰🇷

Just imagine how disturbing Simon's computer desktop must be.

Unofficially, South Korea already has the technology to manufacture nuclear weapons. This was already completed 7 years ago. And together with him, we researched ICBM, SLBM technology and completed it three years ago. Korea has stockpiled enough raw materials to manufacture 27,000 hydrogen bombs. South Korea can produce nuclear weapons at any time, and the time required is about a week. Korea has the world's highest laser concentration technology for concentrating plutonium, so there is no need for centrifuge facilities. The important thing is that the US government already knows this. So the U.S. government is opposing the withdrawal of U.S. troops because it does not want its influence in Korea to decline. The good thing about Korea is that they always lend a helping hand, even to countries that attack them. As everyone knows, Ukraine is currently at war with Russia. Ukraine participated in World War II as an ally of the Soviet Union and has a record of bombing South Koreans, and recently provided engines for North Korea's nuclear missiles. However, when Ukraine went to war with Russia, Ukraine asked South Korea for help. And the South Koreans provided millions of 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine through the United States. Ukraine attacked South Korea during World War II and worked for North Korea, South Korea's enemy, but when they themselves need help, they receive help from South Korea. This is so ironic.

The thing I always found weird about male pattern baldness, especially for people like Simon, you lose your hair completely but can grow a.thick majestic beard better than most people can.

If you know anything about their history, it is very remarkable that the South Korean and Japanese governments are getting chummy. Even before WW2, Korea had been a punching bag for the other powers in the region, including Japan. But China and North Korea's antics has created strange bedfellows.

●Monocle- "Korea Is The World's Second-Largest Soft Power Country."-12/2020 🔥🔥🔥 1.Germany 2. Korea 3. France ● "The capital of Asia is Seoul"- UK Independent --2019 Along with the seven best tourist countries in Europe, "Seoul" was selected as the only Asian country to represent Asia.

Even here in America Korean arms are common. Most of my AR steel and aluminum mags are Korean and very good quality, the ammo is also good quality. Their body armor is also some of the best for the price.

South Korea can teach the Europeans some lessons when it comes to defending their land & still being a developed country.

The power of Friendship

The more i see videos like this, the more i realize that everyone, everywhere, is gearing up for a fight. The real question is: How big of a fight is actually coming, and who's going to be fighting in it?

1:35 - Mid roll ads 3:20 - Chapter 1 - An evolving career 8:15 - Chapter 2 - Why the change ? 17:20 - Chapter 3 - New order & challenges ahead

Awesome, from SK to Japan to Philippines to Australia and NZ, it's great to have solid allies in the Asian Pacific.

I just love how excited you always are about your sponsor and how it could have prevented your facial hair inversion. Great show! Great channels! Thanks for being an alternative in depth News source.

There is a deep cultural belief in Korea that US despite its mutual defense treaty with Korea, the US might not meet its treaty obligation. The government in Korea asks itself why the US has a nuclear weapons sharing program with NATO allies, but not with the Republic of Korea.? Korea feels it must have insurance policy if the US abandons them at some point in the future so they have been building its own industrial defense capabilities.

Thank you, Simon. Very enlightening.

You know I have to say I think Simon has become my favorite "Talking Head". I have come to expect and have always recieved credible and concise information from him and the team behind him. Thanks for all this content!!

South Korea is also planning to offer its new AIP subs to Canada, Poland, and several other countries.

같이 갑시다!

I as a red blooded American I say we stand behind our Korean brothers.

I'll admit, as a Canadian, I really wish we had a military program like South Korea does. Even if that military was used more for defense, used for manpower during emergencies and so on, may not even see actual heavy combat, I'd rather see us prepared than where we're at now. Good on them!

We recently leased our fourth Huanday vehicle , all have been very good. Our Tucson Hybrid Plugin is even better , excellent value.

Great video, great pace, great info. Thanks!

South Korea is family at this point just like Japan. They must be protected at all costs.

Three cheers for ROK showing initiative and stepping up in this crazy world Japan too Glad we're on their side❤❤❤

Very intuitive! Simon said: 9:38~9:46 iSK has got to prepare for the possibility that China would expect South Korea to intervene (in Taiwan contingency) and try to preempt that by unleashing North Korea on the south at the same time Not many people know this. And few among those who know want to talk about it, since they are geo-politics experts. These people are usually tight-lipped. The nukes and missiles of NK are not for offense, since at the instant they move to use them they will be annihiliated. ( I am a South Korean. I believe I know how terrifying the US-ROK forces are, espcially with the back-up from US Forces in Japan , Guam, Hawaii and the Western coast, and with the cooperation of Japan;s SDF.) They are not for defense either, since SK and the US do not have the intention to change the status quo by force, unilaterally. They are for coercing the US forces in SK and Japan to be pinned down, in the Taiwan or South China Sea contingency. (military coercion) They are for coercing SK people to look upon China as the sole and only countury who can save SK from the nuclear threat. (psychological coercion) China is the main theme; NK is only an 'agent of China'.

They have played enough StarCraft and know how the fight will go!

Really appreciate the synthesis of a wide range of geopolitical issues with the effects of Chinese aggression into a comprehensive and easily understandable web of how South Korea has made phenomenal strides in not only arming itself for survival, but to become a regional power that is not to be taken lightly as it has in the past. Also, you have a very smooth, classy delivery, to say nothing of the pate.

Love this guy channel i watch every video

I sincerely hope that South Korea does not let itself be drawn into European wars.

Go go South Korea!! Punching way above their weight class in economics AND military power!

I guess Germany can learn something from South Korea.

Fantastic analysis as always, Simon. I'm 90% sure South Korea is the supposed third-party nation in question with regard to the Czech Republic's 800000 artillery shell deal for Ukraine.

This is exactly the type of attitude Nato nations should be having but nobody outside of Poland seems to care. Korea is has also become a major culture exporter further helping to bind East Asia

Yep, when I think of Korea, I think of banger Bibimbabs with Gochujang smothered Bulgogi burgers. I mean, who doesn't? 😁

excellent topic and analysis

If some countries didn’t see the rise of South Korea as a major arms exporter it was because they were not seeing with their eyes open. South Korea has had a very long industrial development, Danish industry has over decades had to adapt to the South Korean competition in global export markets, it has been painful for many industries sectors in Denmark but just as South Korea is highly adaptable so is Denmark, every time they out compete a sector we have found new opportunities which we could replace it with, the loss of especially the ship building industry was a hard because of Denmark being a maritime giant traditionally and even once a great naval power until Britain thought it would be best to rule the waves alone 😮 but we held on to our great merchant fleet, and even if it is now South Korea that is building most ships that is registered in Denmark and there are more and more ships registered in other countries for various reasons they are still owned by the great maritime companies who has their headquarters in Denmark, but most workers are not danish and many ships never sail to Denmark, few young danish men want to sail from Istanbul as there Mediterranean home harbor with good’s around the Mediterranean Sea exclusively while they are distributing goods from a giant container ship from South Asia, so local crew man most ships. South Korea as a major arms exporter should have come as no surprise they were already being in civilian and military ship production.

"Korea and Japan have had a bad relationship for a very long time" Well that's an understatement. Try "most of recorded history"

Favorite KZfaq channel.

I never knew that Alexander Volkanovski was so well versed in geopolitics

Thank you for making this video about SK, Simon ! 🇰🇷 🇰🇷 🇰🇷 😊

I've had 48 years of living probably the best years on this planet. I feel sorry for everyone else just being born now. It's going to be hell.

Correction. Australia is not a neutral partner with the US. We have been America's closest ally since the signing of the ANZUS treaty in 1951.

Thank you Simon!

Nice to hear something other than the whole population crisis thing. Also nice is that I get to hear about a new sponsor i never heard of until now.

I enjoyed watching it thanks to the automatic subtitle translation. I often see photos with Chinese backgrounds rather than just Korean ones. South Korea has already gone through a war with North Korea backed by Russia and China, and after going through Japan's colonial era, it knows better than anyone the importance of independent national defense, and it also has great significance in wanting to repay the many Western countries including the US, that helped us win at least half of the Korean War. .

I'm glad that SK is on our side, because the Americans have gone insane.

Interesting video, thank you.

Great work! ❤

Historians--''When Europeans barely appeared on the land, Korea had already built a palace and a highly culturally people, for example, Korea already invented ''the world's first metal movable type'', which predates the Gutenberg Bible by 78 years''✔✔

Great video!

Thank you!

One thing is for sure, the west inability to supply ukraine with equipment and ammunition without creating a shortage of its own plays right into the hands of south korea. As it stands russia or china alone is pretty much kicking the wests ass in the manufacturing of military equipment and shells. We simply cant keep up right now. The United States is opening two more factories in Texas to produce artillery shells that should help some but wont be operational for a couple if years. The west needs a country like south korea thats capable of producing a sufficient amount of reliable equipment quickly. Its a good thing for us and a great thing for them.

The RoK is a critical ally of the US. We HAVE been there since 1953 so please turn down the rhetoric of our military not coming to their aid. And the same thing with Poland as a critical ally. I'm glad that they can have military autonomy to a large degree.

The video did mention the obvious reason South Korea (SK) has built its military industry. But more important question was : When. Initially, SK never intended to become an economic powerhouse it is today. It simply had no choice WHEN Nixon Administration decided to pull U.S troops out to appease communist China. Being on its own, SK badly needed weapons to defend itself. In other worlds, SK built heavy industries to make weapons. That decision by President Park almost brought the country to an economic collapse, before the wind changed in 1980 exactly in favor of those heavy industries. Park was assasinated in 1979 (big smile by Jimmy Carter). But his legacy lived on, making SK a country of heavy industry and weapon-manufacturing capability.

was able to be a part of USACA-K south korean people are very passionate and proud of there country they really do thank the U.S.A a lot for keeping there freedom and the benefits of experiencing freedom. without a doubt South Korea will do anything to protect that freedom that America was able to share them with.

Super interesting video! Please do the same format for other Asia pacific players (Japan, Australia, Indonesia, etc)

One of our best allies BY FAR

Thanks!

Its good to see them doing well. Maybe do a report on Andruil and their impact

One can also see that they are forming deeper cultural bonds across western societies. I've always said that if you want to know someone's origin story, first you eat their food. Here in Oregon my workmates go to Korean BBQ every Friday after work. The vets who've served talk about their time in Korea. Talk lovingly about the food and other aspects of life there. I'm starting to hear more references to K-pop and Korean arts more broadly. This is bigger than just the gear. If you live in an urban area and you haven't had bibimbap by now its just a matter of time. Hopefully it will spur more of us to find out "who" the South Koreans are. Do that 18 hour stop-over in Inchon. See a little bit and maybe go back and stay a while.

Just a quick add; S.Korea is willing to set up partnerships with local manufacturing, & transfer of IP in host countries. This is a two-fold benefit, Makes it very attractive to new clients/ nations, and provides a second (or 3rd) supply line for their defence force that is out of range of North Korean strike. For example; the small number of platforms (so far) ordered by the Australian defence force, would not seem to justify the expense of setting up a huge, new manufacturing plant. But it has, and is almost complete. I expect further follow on orders from Australia in the future, but also orders for foreign countries and South Korea it self, as a safe second production line. Australia & Poland are not the only new manufacturing partners, Indonesia is also.

Thank for info

I'd give strong odds that South Korea could easily defeat North Korea in a conventional war by itself, without the US intervening.

A lot of people foresee an encroaching war. I see a common enemy that motivates the disavowal of old grudges and in its place, fosters a brotherhood of unparalleled might and terrifying conviction. We have more allies than enemies, it seems.

An impressive report.

Unexpected? I wouldn't say so! They've bounced back from troubles in the past (quite impressively) and they'll do it again.

As Indonesian, we also realising that China is potential enemies that could threaten Indonesia border, on 2018-2020 show Indonesia that China can be egoistic and unreasonable, Chines coast guard and Chinese fishin vessels has been multiple times entering illegally into Indonesia exclusive economic zone and claim it as part of China Territory. Since that, Indonesia government try to play carefully and will respond strongly if China still decided to claim Indonesia EEZ border. Indonesia were having strategic ambiguity relationship with China, because we were trying to be neutral as much as possible, but if China disrespect Indonesia both our people and Territory, we will fight back.

Great video Simon, and about KEEPS, I don't need it, but my friend is using it and he says it works. But to be honest, picturing you with a full head of hair is kinda scary 😛 I just wish my beard was a nice as yours.

Good video