Indonesia, South Korea Discuss Continuation of KF-21 Fighter Jet Project
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GYEONGJU, Investortrust.id – President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to continue discussions with South Korea on the joint development of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet project.
The discussion took place during Prabowo’s bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting 2025, held at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju on Saturday, Nov 1, 2025.
Prabowo said the continuation of the KF-21 project would depend on economic factors, including price and financing schemes, noting that negotiations between both countries are ongoing.
“I think we will continue to discuss the follow-up of the KF-21 project. The negotiations will depend, of course, on economic factors such as price and the financing scheme,” Prabowo said during the meeting.
He added that Indonesian ministers and technical teams would continue detailed discussions with their South Korean counterparts in the coming months to ensure clarity on the project’s future direction.
The Indonesian president also expressed appreciation for the close partnership that has developed between the two countries, both in defense and the broader economy. He highlighted that communication between the Indonesian government and South Korean industries had intensified over the past year.
“I met with Korean industrial and business leaders when they visited Indonesia. We had long discussions, and we are very open to Korea’s continued participation in our economy. We hope to further this cooperation,” Prabowo said.
Beyond defense, Prabowo emphasized the importance of strengthening cultural collaboration with South Korea, saying that closer cultural ties could boost Indonesia’s creative economy, improve cultural competitiveness, and support the growth of key sectors such as tourism.
In response, President Lee Jae Myung commended the progress of defense collaboration between the two countries, particularly the joint development of the next-generation KF-21 fighter aircraft.
“South Korea and Indonesia have built cooperation across multiple sectors over a long period of time—economy, trade, investment, defense, and security—and our partnership has now reached a very high level,” Lee said.
Lee also recalled the historical connection between both nations through the 1955 Bandung Conference, which inspired Asia’s solidarity and strategic autonomy.
“We have learned from history that Indonesia led the formation of the Bandung Spirit. The key elements of that spirit—balance, strategic autonomy, cooperation, and pragmatism—form the strong pillars of Korea’s foreign policy,” Lee said.
