폴란드 배신 후폭풍! 한국과 손잡은 루마니아 방산 파트너의 충격 부상

How can you doubt Korean technology ? Korea is truly the best.

 There is a country that fell to its knees in an instant due to suspicion and betrayal toward Korea .

 This was a country that once tried its best to cooperate with Korea, but ended up getting stabbed in the back of the head .

 The story of a security expert who quickly resolved this situation is becoming a hot topic .

 Please subscribe and like to get started.

 As a technology expert with 15 years of experience, there were many places that called me, but the place I chose five years ago was Korea.

 And from then on, I was in charge of preventing overseas technology leaks in Korea .

 That day, as usual, I was looking at the monitor in the security team office on the 22nd floor of the Seoul headquarters .

 It had been a long time since working overtime had become a daily routine, and I was sitting across from my team leader, Manager Park Hyeon-su, in a conference room with only dim lighting .

 I frowned without realizing it as I looked at the screen .

 The strange signals picked up in Europe over the past week have come to mind.

 I sat back in my chair and  took a sip of coffee.

 Manager Park's expression was serious.

 It has been confirmed that some of our technology is being leaked to third countries in Poland .

 At the time, I thought it was just a simple technology leak .

 I thought it was something that occasionally happened in overseas military contracts .

 I lowered the screen and listened to Manager Park's instructions.

 The next day, I had a ticket to Poland, permission to contact local technicians, and a week- long secret investigation mission all set to go.

 It seems like the situation is more serious than I thought .

 I started to feel nervous, but I had no choice but to contact my local contact, Deputy Kim Min- soo.

 Kim Min-soo's voice was heard over the transfer.

 He already had an idea of ​​the situation and spoke in a calm yet tense tone.

  There    was information that technical data related to the K2 tank and Cheongung system were being leaked to German military companies in Poland.

 It's always been like that.

 Kim Min-su had accurate information about the situation on the scene .

 I thought it was a simple breach of contract and told Kim Min-soo not to overreact .

 But Kim Min-soo's worries did not subside easily.

 Before hanging up the phone, Kim Min-soo said that this incident may not be simple and that there may be forces moving within Poland that we are not aware of .

 Those words made me think for a moment .

 Why would Poland risk technology leaks by doing something like this ? There was no reason to worsen relations with South Korea given the tensions with Russia .

 Still, the fact that we were playing such a dangerous game  meant that there was a bigger picture.

 As I was packing, questions kept lingering in my head.

  I  placed my plane ticket to Warsaw on the table and looked out the window.

 I boarded the Etrue plane and the night sky of Seoul was bright with neon signs as always.

 My reflection in the window also had a stern expression.

 From the moment I arrived at Warsaw airport, I felt a different atmosphere than I expected.

 Janusz Kowalski, a Polish Ministry of Defense official who greeted me and Kim Min-soo,  looked quite wary.

 It was as if the face of someone was hiding something.

 As soon as we left the airport, he guided us to a separate vehicle, which was definitely different from a typical official visit.

 We got into the car and drove for about two hours to a military base outside Warsaw.

 From the first impression, it was unusual.

  The security was noticeably tighter than usual .

 We had to go through three identity checks at the main gate, and  armed guards were stationed throughout the base .

 There were also many more CCTV cameras installed than usual .

 On the surface, it seemed like a normal technical inspection visit, but the atmosphere was strange.

 I asked Kim Min-su quietly .

 Is security this tight even on normal days? Kim Min-soo shook his head and  replied that the atmosphere was unusually tense today.

 I had a feeling that something was going on that we didn't know about .

 As we entered the base, an even more amazing sight unfolded.

  The K2 tanks we provided were deployed differently than usual.

 It was as if the camp had prepared for an emergency.

  The Sky Palace anti-communist system also appeared to be operational, and the technicians were moving around busier than usual .

 Kubalski  explained as he guided us into the technical management building.

 They said that they had discovered some abnormalities in the system a few days ago .

  The remote access to some devices was becoming unstable.

 But I got the feeling that he was hiding something in his speech.

  It  was almost as if there was a different nuance to the real problem.

 When I arrived at the technical management building, I  met the technicians who had been dispatched from Korea.

 Surprisingly, their expressions were quite dark.

 Even Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho, who is usually confident, looked worried.

 He gave me a quiet earful.

 In recent days, the Polish side has been requesting unscheduled technical data .

 What was even stranger were the demands.

 They asked for  design drawings of core technologies and software source code, not operating manuals or maintenance instructions.

 Team leader Lee Jeong-ho said that he naturally refused, but  expressed concern that the pressure from Poland was getting stronger.

 That evening, I returned to my accommodation and sorted out the situation with Kim Min-su .

 Clearly something planned was going on.

 It seemed like a systematic attempt at technology theft, not just a simple technical blunder .

 Kim Min-soo thought the same thing.

 He suggested that a full-scale investigation should begin tomorrow .

 I reported the situation at the Seoul headquarters from my hotel room late at night .

 Manager Park Hyeon-su said that this was expected and instructed them to act more cautiously.

 And he asked them to conduct the investigation in such a way that the Polish side would never notice .

 But the next morning, a sudden emergency alarm sounded inside the base.

 I quickly got dressed and  ran to the technical management building with Kim Min-su.

 My heart was beating fast as I ran down the hallway .

 This was my first time experiencing an emergency like this.

 When we arrived at the technical management building, it was complete chaos.

 Polish technicians were running  around in front of their monitors, looking confused.

 As soon as Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho saw me, he came over and explained the situation .

 The K239 Cheonmu multiple rocket system suddenly stopped working .

 What was even more surprising was the cause.

 After checking the system log, they  said that they found traces of a remote access attempt from outside.

 It  meant that someone was attempting to infiltrate our system without permission.

 Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho  reported that all external connections were immediately blocked.

 Marek Nowak, the Polish technical director, urgently requested restoration.

 However, Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho  firmly refused, saying that the system could not be restarted until the security check was completed .

 Then Novak's expression suddenly distorted.

 It was a look of confusion, as if the plan had gone awry.

 I quickly took out my cell phone and made an urgent report to the Seoul headquarters.

 When I explained the situation to Manager Park Hyeon-su, he immediately gave instructions to activate the emergency response team .

 And he urged them to make the safety of all Korean technicians their top priority .

 Kim Min-soo was quietly precious to me.

 There were suspicious vehicles circling around the hotel last night .

 At first I didn't care, but after the incident broke out this morning, I said I suspected a connection .

 I had the same thought .

 At the base command center, Polish military officials were holding an emergency meeting .

 Even from a distance, it seemed like there was quite a bit of debate going on.

  I  could see Kowalski nodding towards us every now and then.

 I felt like he was talking about something related to us .

 In the afternoon, something even stranger happened.

 The Polish side suddenly asked us to provide them with the encryption keys for the entire system  .

 Although it was supposedly needed for system recovery, this was a clear security breach request.

 Team leader Lee Jeong-ho naturally refused, which further heightened tensions between the two sides.

 I'm starting to feel confident that this whole situation isn't a coincidence.

  It was definitely planned.

 A meticulous plan to gain access to our core technologies under the pretext of system failure .

 Kim Min-soo also shared the same view and suggested that a full-scale investigation should be launched quickly .

 We had an emergency video conference at the hotel that night .

 It was a meeting with the entire security team at the Seoul headquarters participating.

 As soon as the situation report was completed, response measures were discussed.

 Now we all realize that we are not just providing technical support, but are in the middle of first aid .

  On the fourth day, I discovered the decisive evidence of a chance encounter.

  While I was printing documents in the copy room inside the base, I found a bundle of documents that a Polish technician had left behind in a hurry .

 I took a peek out of curiosity, and the moment I did, a chill ran down my spine.

 The document was a draft of a technical cooperation agreement with the German military giant Rheinmetall .

 Surprisingly, the   key technologies of the fire control system and Cheongung anti-aircraft system of the K2 tank that we provided to Poland were clearly stated .

 It wasn't just simple cooperation, it  was specific about technology transfer.

 What was even more shocking were the names written on the signature column.

 The names of the Polish Ministry of Defense officials were written down in a row.

 I saw Kowalski's name and even Novak's name, who works directly with us .

 They were systematically trying to transfer our technology to Germany .

 I quickly took a picture of the entire document with my cell phone .

 My hands were shaking, but it was an opportunity I couldn't miss.

 In particular, the contract terms  clearly stated that the technology would be transferred to a third country without notifying the Korean side .

 This was a clear breach of contract and technology theft.

 I put the document back in its original place and left the copy room naturally.

 My heart was pounding as I walked down the hallway.

 Now things are completely different.

 It wasn't just a suspicion, it was solid evidence .

 I had to find Kim Min-su and tell him this fact.

 Kim Min-su's expression hardened after hearing my explanation.

 He said the situation was much more serious than he had expected .

 He immediately cautioned us to be careful not to let it be discovered that we knew .

 If the Polish side noticed, there was a high possibility that they would destroy the evidence .

 I met Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho separately in the afternoon and informed him of the situation.

 He was shocked, but confessed that he had already guessed .

 He said that in recent days he  had the feeling that Polish engineers were trying to get closer to the need .

 Now the reason became clear .

 I immediately sent the photos of the documents to the Seoul headquarters via encrypted message .

 30 minutes later, I received an emergency call from Manager Park Hyeon-su.

  The report to the higher-ups has been completed and an official response will now begin.

 He stressed that ensuring the safety of all dispatched personnel is the top priority .

 That evening at the hotel, I discussed countermeasures with Kim Min-soo.

 We have judged that Poland's movements are likely to become more blatant starting tomorrow .

 I have n't been caught yet, but I have a feeling it's going to get more dangerous as time goes on.

 We also had to act more carefully .

 But on the morning of the fourth day, the expected thing happened.

 The Polish side suddenly requested a personal meeting with our technicians .

 On the surface, it was  said to be a consultation to expand technological cooperation, but I had a feeling that real pressure was starting.

 The first interviewee was Choi Young-min, a new technician.

 I was worried because he was still inexperienced.

 I  waited near the interview room with Kim Min-soo and observed the situation.

 About an hour later, Choi Young-min came out, his face pale.

 Choi Young-min quietly explained the situation to me.

 The Polish side demanded that key technical data be extracted in exchange for personal financial compensation .

  When I refused, he even made implicit threats to my family's safety.

 This was a clear threat.

 The second interview involved veteran technician Daewoo Kim .

 Although he was a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience, his expression was serious when he came out .

 Kim Dae-ho reported to me that he had heard specific information that the Polish side had already made plans to transfer a significant portion of our technology to Germany .

 Even more surprising was the proposal from Poland.

 They  tried to persuade Korean engineers by offering them opportunities to participate in other projects in Europe.

 Of course, the  request was for me to share the technical information I was currently working on under that condition.

 Kim Dae-hoon naturally refused, but warned that the other party's attitude was becoming increasingly coercive .

 I thought the Polish chip issue would be resolved more easily than I thought, but Koreans are not the type of people who would trade their country's technology for a few dollars and jobs.

  A  separate conference room was prepared for Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho's interview time.

 It was said that even a Polish Ministry of Defense official would attend .

 I waited anxiously, but the interview didn't end for more than two hours.

 I had a feeling something serious was going on.

 When Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho finally came out, his expression was stern.

 He spoke to me quietly .

 The Polish side sent an ultimatum.

 They threatened to restrict the departure of all Korean engineers if key technical data was not provided by tomorrow  .

 The Seoul headquarters has already ordered emergency plans to be activated, saying this is an expected scenario .

 The content was that ensuring the safety of all technicians was the top priority and that an emergency withdrawal should be considered if necessary .

 That night I called all the Korean technicians together for an informal meeting .

 We explained the severity of the situation and discussed future response plans.

 Everyone looked nervous, but they showed their determination to protect our technology until the end .

 In particular, Choi Young-mi was scared at first, but now she was rather angry .

 At 5 a.

m.

 that morning, my cell phone rang loudly.

 It was an emergency call from the Seoul headquarters.

 Manager Park Hyeon-su 's voice was much more urgent than usual .

 There was news that the situation had changed drastically .

 Information came in that the Polish government was effectively starting to block our engineers from leaving the country  .

 In addition, intelligence has been confirmed that a technology transfer agreement with Germany's Rheinmetall has already entered the conclusion stage .

  It  meant that there wasn't much time left.

 Manager Park Hyeon-su immediately  relayed the head office's final decision to withdraw all dispatched personnel.

 I quickly woke up Kim Min-su and informed him of the situation.

 He also realized the seriousness of the situation as soon as he woke up .

 We didn't have much time left.

 Everything had to be ready before the Polish side noticed  .

 Kim Min-soo said he would immediately put an emergency evacuation plan into action.

 We quickly called together Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho and other technicians .

 I explained the situation quietly in the hotel hallway .

 Everyone reacted calmly, saying that this was expected, but they couldn't hide their nervousness.

 In particular, Choi Young-min  looked anxious as if yesterday's threat was coming to mind.

 The most important thing was the safe movement of technical data.

  Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho reported that he had already backed up all important data .

 Even if we gave up the physical hardware, we could never hand over the core technology .

 I also did a full format of my laptop and storage devices.

 And Kim Min-soo secretly booked a flight.

 It was a direct flight from Warsaw to Seoul at 2pm.

 Because it might be suspicious if all 13 engineers left on the same flight, we   decided to split into global groups and head to the airport at different times.

 Team leader Lee Jeong-ho and I were included in the last group.

 Beginning at 10 a.

m.

, the first group began to leave the hotel secretly.

  There were five people including Choi Young-min.

 Fortunately, the Polish side did n't seem to notice yet.

 An hour later, the second group also departed safely.

  There were four veteran technicians led by Kim Dae-ho.

 When it was time for Jeongho, it was our turn.

 The final group consisted of four people: me, Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho, Kim Min-soo, and a security officer .

  I  couldn't let go of my tension until the moment I left the hotel.

 I kept feeling uneasy that the Polish side might stop us at the last minute .

  Team  Leader Lee Jeong-ho sighed in relief in the taxi on the way to the airport.

 He confessed that he had had a really hard time the past few days .

 He said that as an engineer, what made him  most upset was that the system he had developed was almost illegally stolen .

 I felt the same way.

 Fortunately, we were all able to return to Korea safely .

 Two days after arriving in Seoul, an emergency response meeting was held in the headquarters conference room.

 This time, it  was not a simple report, but a place to discuss proactive response measures.

 Not only Manager Park Hyeon-su, but also the head of the technology development headquarters and the entire security team attended.

 The atmosphere was completely different.

 The first thing discussed was the activation of a remote shutdown system.

 All the equipment we provided to Poland  had hidden backdoors that could remotely disable key functions in the event of an emergency.

 Of course, it has no effect on normal operations at all, but  in emergency situations such as technology leaks, it could be a powerful weapon .

 Team leader Lee Jeong-ho gave a technical explanation.

 For the K239 Cheonmu system, the core fire control software is encrypted and cannot be operated without an authentication key.

  What we meant was that if we blocked that authentication key, the entire system would be disabled.

 The same was true of the Cheongung anti-communist system.

 I have once again reported in detail the situations I witnessed in Poland .

 There was no reason to hesitate any longer, as all the evidence was clear: the technology transfer agreement with Germany, the threats against our engineers, and the systematic attempts to steal technology.

  At   3pm the remote shutdown order was finally given.

 I went down to the security control center on the second basement floor with the technical team .

 There was a facility there that could monitor all of our equipment exported overseas in real time  .

 It was cutting-edge equipment that looked like something straight out of a futuristic movie.

 Team leader Lee Jeong-ho sat down in front of the main computer and started typing complex code.

 The screen  displayed the real-time status of our equipment deployed in Poland.

    It said that all of the K239s, six Cheongung anti-aircraft systems, and other auxiliary equipment were in normal operation.

  The blocking sequence finally began.

 First of all, it was the K239 Cheonmu system.

  As Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho pressed the Enter key, the status indicators on the screen began to turn red one by one .

 That meant the systems were locking up one by one.

 After about 10 minutes, all the Chunmu systems were completely shut down.

 Next was the turn of the Celestial Palace anti-communist system .

 This was a more complex process.

 Every component, from the radar to the missile launcher, was managed separately.

 Team leader Lee Jeong-ho carefully blocked them one by one.

 Because I don't want there to be any mistakes.

  By around 5pm, all blocking operations were complete.

 Our equipment in Poland  was essentially scrap metal.

 Although it looked fine on the outside, none of its core functions were working.

 Team leader Lee Jeong-ho  reported the completion of the work with a satisfied expression.

 Manager Park Hyeon-su instructed us to check the situation on the ground in Poland .

 Kim Min-su collected information through local partners.

 As expected, the news was that the Polish military base was in complete disarray.

 Suddenly, all the Korean-made equipment stopped working, causing panic.

 That evening, the Polish news reported the news .

 The article said Poland had requested emergency technical assistance from South Korea .

 But we politely declined.

  They   stated that they could not provide any support until there was a clear explanation for the attempted technology leak.

 A week after we imposed that technology lockdown, we received an unexpected call.

  An  official request came from the Romanian Ministry of Defense to discuss urgent cooperation with South Korea .

 Manager Park Hyeon-su decided that this was not a simple coincidence .

 The analysis is that Romania, which was watching the situation in Poland,  seems to have taken preemptive action.

 I have been ordered to go on a business trip abroad once again.

 This time it was Bukul's shooti.

 Kim Min-soo also decided to go, but this time the situation was completely different.

 It was Romania that first requested cooperation.

  I  was given a warm welcome and VIP treatment at the airport.

 We headed to a military facility about 30 minutes from downtown Bucharest .

 It was a completely different atmosphere from Poland.

 The Romanian representative, Colonel Alexandre Popescu, came out in person to welcome us.

 I was impressed from his first words.

 He said that Romania would never make the same mistake, knowing full well what happened in Poland  .

 From our first meeting, we could see Romania's sincerity .

 Colonel Popesk laid out specific terms of cooperation.

  We   have even prepared a written promise not only to prohibit technology leaks, but also to never allow transfers to third countries.

 They even   brought a draft contract that clearly stated that there would be no technology sharing with Germany or other NATO countries.

 Even more surprising was Romania's long-term plan.

    The proposal was not simply to import finished products, but to establish a local production line for Korean defense companies within Romania.

 They even presented concrete plans to build a local assembly plant for the K9 self-propelled howitzer in Brasov .

 Kim Min-soo was quietly precious to me.

  The reason Romania was so active was because of the threat from Russia.

  He   said that watching the war in Ukraine made him realize that existing Western weapons systems have limitations.

 The analysis was particularly impressed by the combat performance of Korean weapons .

 On the second day, I visited the candidate site of Brasov in person.

  It  was a beautiful city located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains.

 The site restricted by Romania was the site of an existing military factory, and the infrastructure was already in place to some extent,  making it a good location for development.

 Colonel Popescu gave a detailed explanation.

 The plan was to build a comprehensive complex here that would be able to produce not only the K9 self-propelled howitzer, but also the K239 Cheonmu system and the next-generation air defense system  .

 It was a large-scale project with an investment scale of 5 billion dollars .

 What was most impressive was the will of the Romanian government.

 At a dinner attended by the Defense Minister himself, he  stressed that Romania seeks a long-term strategic partnership with South Korea.

  It    was the intention to pursue a comprehensive alliance that included technological cooperation and joint development, rather than a simple buyer-seller relationship.

 I gave a detailed report to the Seoul headquarters from the hotel that night .

 Manager Park Hyeon-su  responded positively, saying that the conditions were much better than expected.

  I   decided that this was a good opportunity to make up for the losses caused by the betrayal in Poland.

 On the last day, the Romanian side made another surprise offer.

  The idea   was to run a joint research and development program between Korean and Romanian engineers.

 It was a proposal to merge each other's technologies to create a better system .

 This  was a collaboration of a level I really didn't expect.

 A month later, the historic moment finally arrived.

  The Romanian Minister of Defense personally visited Korea and signed a strategic defense cooperation agreement .

 I was involved in the process of concluding this agreement from beginning to end .

 My bitter experience in Poland actually led to a better opportunity .

 I attended as a staff member, but I  was given a special seat in the second row in recognition of my hard work.

 The feeling was new.

 Colonel Popescu also attended with the Romanian delegation.

  As soon as he saw me, he greeted me warmly and  mentioned our last meeting in Bucharest.

 It was the honest conversations back then that led to today's agreement .

 I also replied that I was deeply impressed by Romania's sincere attitude .

 The core content of the agreement was quite comprehensive.

 It included local production of the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the K239 Cheonmo system, as well as joint development of the next-generation air defense system .

 In particular, the technical protection provisions were specified in great detail.

 The lessons of the Polish situation were clearly reflected.

 What impressed me most was the reciprocal technology exchange clause.

 It was about combining Korea's cutting-edge weapons technology with Romania's traditional night school and precision processing technology .

 It was not a simple one-sided transfer of technology, but a true collaboration.

 These terms  were unprecedented in contracts made with other countries.

 In a press conference held after the signing ceremony, the defense ministers of the two countries emphasized the significance of the agreement.

  The Korean side stated that it would become a bridgehead for expanding defense cooperation in Eastern Europe, while the  Romanian side evaluated it as a decisive opportunity for modernizing its own defense industry  .

 Manager Park Hyeon-su sent me a separate congratulatory message.

  It   was a recognition of his efforts to overcome the crisis in Poland and create new opportunities with Romania.

 In particular, it was   evaluated that accurate information collection and rapid response on site led to today's results.

 In the afternoon, a working meeting with the Romanian delegation followed.

   We discussed the specific construction schedule for the Brasov production complex and the plans for dispatching engineers.

 Construction was scheduled to begin in July of this year and  complete the first phase of the facility by the end of next year.

 It was a very tight schedule, but Romania's will was firm.

 Kim Min-soo was also selected as the local general manager for this project .

 He pledged to pay special attention to security management, drawing on his experiences in Poland .

 This time, it   was the will to thoroughly manage things to ensure that nothing like a technology leak ever happens again.

 At the dinner table, Colonel Popesk said something meaningful .

 In a way, Poland's betrayal  gave Romania the opportunity to become a better partner.

  He  said that the crisis actually became an opportunity.

 He said that he was so happy to be able to join hands with Korea .

 So two weeks after the agreement with Romania was signed, interesting news began to appear one after another in the international news .

 There were reports that Poland was in serious trouble due to the problem of Korean equipment .

 I have been closely monitoring the relevant news with the headquarters monitoring team .

 The first shocking news was the conflict within the Polish army .

 The K239 Cheonmo system and Cheongung anti-communist system that we blocked are still not restored .

 Internal intelligence has leaked that high-ranking members of the Polish military are  strongly criticizing the government's hasty attempt to leak technology .

 Even more serious were Russia's moves.

 There was news that Russia, having detected problems with Poland's air defenses, was  intensifying military exercises near the Baltic Sea.

  It was the worst possible timing for Poland.

  Because  all the equipment that played a key role in border defense was neutralized.

 Manager Park Hyeon-su instructed me to analyze the situation in Poland in more detail .

 We carefully looked at Polish media reports with Kim Min-soo  .

 Surprisingly, there was news that the Polish Defense Council was summoning government officials and making recommendations .

 The attempted technology leak was being dealt with at the level of a state audit .

 What struck me most when analyzing the situation in Poland  was public opinion.

 Even the media, which had initially supported the government's position, were now churning out critical reports.

  Criticism has been rife that it has endangered national security by worsening relations with South Korea .

 Even the opposition party said it was organizing protests demanding the government's resignation .

 The current status of people like Kowalski and Novak has also been revealed.

 All of them were either removed from their positions or were under investigation.

 He was especially  identified as the mastermind behind the betrayal after secret contracts with Germany were exposed .

 I thought about karma.

 But just a day later, shocking news came out.

 Germany  announced that it had unilaterally terminated the technology transfer agreement with Poland .

 The reason was that it had lost its practical value due to Korea's technological blockade  .

 For Poland, it was like adding insult to injury.

 Because even what I was trying to gain in return for my betrayal ended up in vain.

  The Polish government, cornered, has repeatedly asked us to negotiate.

   The restrictions ranged from official requests to lift technology blocks to unofficial restrictions .

 But both our government and the company have maintained a consistent position.

  It  was stated that no negotiation was possible without a clear apology and a promise not to reoccur.

 At that time, Kim Min-su brought interesting information .

 We were looking for a replacement for our equipment within Poland, but there  was no suitable alternative.

  The   analysis was that replacing it with American or German equipment would cost a significant initial amount of money and take several years.

 In the end, Poland was caught in a trap of its own making .

 Rather, the Czech Republic and Slovakia announced that they would learn from Poland's example and further strengthen cooperation with Korea .

 There is news that Hungary is also actively considering introducing Korean weapons .

 Poland's failure actually brought us more opportunities .

 That evening, I sorted out the situation with Manager Park Hyeon-su.

 Poland was completely isolated and we had a stronger negotiating position.

 But the game wasn't over yet.

 The Korean government has shown a strong stance.

 Finally, we have  officially announced that we are ending our defense cooperation relationship with Poland.

 The content of the briefing at the time was shocking.

 The intelligence agency's analysis revealed that Poland's attempted technology leak went beyond a simple breach of contract and was at the level of theft of national secrets  .

 There was even a possibility of secondary leakage to North Korea or China .

 This was a serious matter that threatened national security.

 The government's decision was decisive.

 The idea was to put Poland on a defense cooperation blacklist and not provide it with any military technology for the next 10 years .

 We have decided to completely stop providing technical support for equipment that has already been exported .

 It was practically a declaration of isolation.

 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stressed that South Korea will only pursue defense cooperation based on trust .

 He added that the Polish case should serve as a warning message to other countries .

 After the press conference, the Polish embassy immediately issued a rebuttal.

 The content was that South Korea's unilateral blocking of technology was a violation of international law and that they would demand international mediation .

 However, legally, we were in an advantageous position because it was Poland that had violated the security provisions already stated in the contract  .

 Manager Park Hyeon-su gave me a special mission.

 Its role was to spread the lessons of the Polish crisis to other countries in Europe .

  The idea     was to convey the message that Korea's defense technology is managed under a strict security system, while at the same time offering better conditions to trustworthy partners.

 When I returned to Seoul after a week-long tour of Europe, the situation had completely changed.

 Since the declaration of separation with Poland, requests for cooperation from other European countries have increased sharply.

 Lithuania, Latvia, and Slovenia were lining up to explore defense cooperation with Korea .

 At that time, Kim Min-soo presented an interesting analysis.

 The Polish situation paradoxically enhanced the brand value of the Korean defense industry .

 The analysis was that strict management of technological security and a firm response to betrayal are rather being accepted as evidence of trustworthiness .

 That night, when I was home, I saw follow-up reports about Poland on the news.

  The Polish government announced that it would send a high-level special envoy from the Korean government to  try to restore relations.

 But I felt like it was already too late .

 Because once trust is broken, it is not easy to restore.

  The   groundbreaking ceremony for the K-Defense Hub Europe was finally held in Brasov, Romania, in the second week of July.

 I left Incheon Airport early in the morning and  arrived in Brasov via Bucharest.

  At the mining site, which is spread out against the backdrop of the Carpathian Mountains, dozens of heavy equipment were already on standby, and the strong will of the Romanian government could be felt .

 The groundbreaking ceremony began at 10 a.

m.

 with the attendance of the Romanian Prime Minister, the Minister of National Defense, and representatives of the Korean defense industry  .

 I also went up on stage as a representative of the Korean working-level team and gave a speech.

 It was symbolic to see the leaders of the two countries break ground together.

  The betrayal in Poland came to mind, but I felt that I was now in a much better position with my partners .

 Among the Korean engineers I met at the afternoon technology seminar, there was a person named Dr.

 Lee Sang-wook.

   He was a legendary figure in his mid-60s who participated in the development of the K9 self-propelled howitzer from the beginning as a veteran engineer.

 But after the seminar, when we were talking privately, I learned something really surprising.

 This doctor's father served in the Vietnam War as an artillery officer in the Korean Army .

 He was deployed as part of the Tiger Division in the late 1960s and  operated the M11 howitzer.

 He said that he was deeply impressed by the advanced artillery technology while operating with the US artillerymen at the time  .

 It was said that even after returning home after the war, he devoted his life to the development of Korean artillery technology .

 Dr.

 Lee Sang-wook  said that he devoted his life to developing artillery technology, following in his father's footsteps.

  He     said that when he entered the Agency for Defense Development in the early 1980s and started working on the self-propelled artillery development project, he heard countless times that it was impossible with Korean technology.

 They say there was an atmosphere where there was no choice but to rely on foreign technology .

 But the doctor didn't give up.

 While studying technology in Germany, the US, and the UK, we learned advanced technologies, but rather than simply imitating them, we tried to develop our own unique technologies.

 In particular, he     said that he had a firm belief that he would create a self-propelled artillery optimized for Korea's terrain characteristics and operational environment based on his father's practical know-how gained from his experience in Vietnam.

 When the development of the K9 self-propelled howitzer began in earnest in the late 1990s, Dr.

 Lee was a key member of the development team.

 At that time, Korean technology was far behind that of Germany and the United States, which were considered the world's best.

 But the doctor said he saw this as an opportunity .

 He said that his father was determined to win with innovative ideas that would improve upon the limitations of the American artillery that he had witnessed in Vietnam  .

 The most touching story was when the mass production of the K9 self-propelled howitzer began.

 The doctor's father, who was in his 80s at the time, came to the factory in person to see the completed K9 and was said to have shed tears.

 He said that the dream that we would one day be able to make something like that, envious of the American artillery in Vietnam, has  become a reality after 50 years.

 Dr.

 Lee Sang-wook also attached special meaning to this Romanian project.

  The fact that Korea is not simply exporting finished products but  is also transferring technology and producing locally is evaluated as evidence that Korea's defense technology has truly reached a world-class level .

 The skills we learned in Vietnam  are now skills we pass on to other countries.

  I can't forget the last words the doctor said to me at that dinner.

 He said that he was proud that his father's generation had to fight in Vietnam with American weapons, but now we can help other countries with weapons made with our own technology.

 At  that moment, my heart ached without me knowing it .

 As I looked out the window of the plane leaving Brasov, I saw the construction site.

 It was a great feeling to think that in a few years, cutting-edge weapons made with our technology would be produced here .

 I think that today's achievements were possible because of the dedication of people like Dr.

 Lee Sang-wook .

 A month after the groundbreaking ceremony in Brasov, unexpected ripples began to hit the European defense industry .

 I  could sense the change in the situation as I reviewed the overseas Oriental reports that came in every day at the headquarters .

 Germany was the first to react .

 German military suppliers such as Rheinmetall and KraussMaffei suddenly began to express a sense of crisis .

 The German media is flooded with analysis articles about how Korea's advance into Europe threatens the existing defense industry order  .

 In particular, there was news that the German industry was nervous as the K9 self-propelled howitzer was evaluated to have better price-performance ratio than the German self-propelled howitzer  .

 Manager Park Hyeon-su analyzed that this kind of reaction is actually advantageous to us.

 But then unexpected news came.

 French defense companies such as Thales and Neckster suddenly began exploring technological cooperation with Korea.

  According to the report sent by Kim Min-soo from Paris, the French side is approaching us very actively .

 In the past, France would have tended to focus more on its own or European technology and  ignore Asian technology.

 The CEO of Thales Group personally requested to meet with the Korean side, so I went on a business trip.

 As soon as I arrived in Paris, I could sense a change in attitude on the French side .

 I was given VIP treatment from the airport and was taken downtown.

 The meeting at Thales headquarters was truly amazing.

 Jean-Pierre Dupoul, the CEO of the company, came out in person to greet me.

 He was honest and open from the very first greeting.

   He said he now acknowledges that France has underestimated South Korea's defense technology.

 He officially apologized, saying he had been prejudiced against the technological capabilities of Asian countries in particular  .

  The CEO of Dupul was full of praise for the performance of the K9 self-propelled howitzer .

  It was   evaluated as superior to French self-propelled guns in all aspects including firepower, mobility, and survivability.

 I was particularly impressed by the level of automation and accuracy.

  He   said he had deep respect for Korea's engineering capabilities in developing such technology.

 The most surprising thing was the evaluation of the KF21 fighter jet.

 The French Air Force has unofficially analyzed its performance and  concluded that it is roughly equivalent to the Rafale fighter jet.

 Moreover, he was impressed by the incredible achievement, saying that the price was half that of the Rafale  .

 The CEO of Dupul frankly expressed France's sense of crisis .

 France has been one of the world's top three arms exporters, along with the United States and Russia, but its position is said to be shaken by the emergence of South Korea .

  French companies were losing contracts, especially as the popularity of Korean weapons soared in the Middle East and Southeast Asian markets  .

 Meanwhile, the CEO of Dupul  declared that he would choose cooperation over competition.

 I suggested that combining Korea's excellent technology and France's long-standing know-how could create a synergy effect .

 He said he would like to pursue joint research and development, particularly in the fields of next-generation fighter jets and air defense systems .

 Specific plans for cooperation were also presented.

 The first was the development of a European version of the KF21 .

 The idea was to create a new version that would integrate French missiles and electronic warfare systems into the basic Korean design  .

 The second was the joint development of the next-generation anti-communist system.

 It was a project to graft French radar technology onto the basic structure of the Cheongung .

 In addition, the idea   was to enter the African market, where France has traditionally been strong, together with Korean companies.

 I was confident that by combining France's political influence and Korea's technological prowess, we could dominate the entire African market .

 The CEO of Dupul did not reflect on the past either .

 He frankly admitted that until a few years ago, the French industry viewed Korea as a mere copycat country.

 But he now apologizes again for his past arrogance, acknowledging that South Korea is a leader in innovation   .

 The desperation on the French side was felt during the negotiations.

 There was a widespread sense of crisis that it would be difficult to survive in the future defense industry market without cooperation with Korea  .

 He confessed that it is impossible for France to compete alone, especially in the Asian market where Korean companies already have an overwhelming advantage  .

 I was pleased with this change in French attitude .

 The advanced European countries that looked down on Korea just a few years ago are  now asking for our cooperation .

 But at the same time, I tried not to lose my humility .

 After three days of negotiations in the 8th place, a basic agreement was reached.

 First, we decided to start preliminary research for joint development of the next-generation fighter jet and  sign a full-scale cooperation agreement six months later .

 The French side has pledged an initial investment of 1 billion euros.

 As he left in 8th place, the last words of the CEO of Dupul were impressive.

  France pledged to keep pace with South Korea's move as it has become a game changer in the global defense industry.

  Some   even laughed at the irony of France getting a chance thanks to Poland's foolish choice.

 When I returned to Seoul and finished reporting, the response from the company executives was explosive.

  With the strategic partnership with France, a traditional powerhouse, in place, the bridgehead for advancing into Europe has been solidified.

 What began as a crisis in Poland was now becoming a springboard for a global leap forward.

 Meanwhile, a special invitation came from Romania .

 Colonel Popescu himself visited Seoul and asked me to visit the Brasov site again .

 The pretext was that an interim inspection was needed because the construction of the K-Defense Hub was progressing faster than expected, but it   seemed that the intention was actually to discuss a larger plan.

 As soon as we arrived at the Shuti in Bukul, we were greeted by an amazing sight .

 From the airport to the city center, billboards for Korean companies were visible everywhere .

 There were banners hanging announcing that Samsung, LG, and even Hyundai Heavy Industries were advancing into Romania .

  It  was clearly a ripple effect of the K-Defense Hub project.

 The changes we saw on our arrival in Brasov were even more surprising.

 At the groundbreaking ceremony two months ago, the land was empty, but now the skeleton of the massive building was almost complete.

 Kim Min-soo was guided with a proud expression .

 The Romanian construction companies   said they were able to bring forward the schedule because the work was done much faster than expected.

 What impressed me most was the enthusiasm of the Romanian engineers.

  I  was studying day and night with technical advisors dispatched from Korea.

 According to Team Leader Lee Jeong-ho's explanation, Romanian technicians were so impressed by the passion of Korean engineers that they worked day and night .

 He said that he was showing amazing passion in wanting to become like Korea .

 And then, at a high-level meeting that afternoon, Colonel Popesk made a surprising proposal.

 The Romanian government wanted to promote the establishment of a Balkan defense alliance centered around the K-Defense Hub  .

 The idea was to create a regional defense cooperation body that would include Serbia, Bulgaria, and Croatia  .

 A more specific plan was also presented.

 The idea was to share the production of weapons systems suited to each country's characteristics and  jointly pursue technological development.

  The     restrictions were that Romania would be in charge of the K9 self-propelled howitzers and K239s, Serbia would be in charge of small drones and ammunition, and Bulgaria would be in charge of vehicles and communication equipment.

 I have explored the possibility of this limitation .

 The entire Balkan region  was moving away from Russian influence, and Western weapons were becoming too expensive, so alternatives were being sought .

 South Korea's cost-effective weapons systems could be an ideal option for them.

 But Kim Min-soo gave me some interesting information.

  It  was said that Serbia had already attempted to make unofficial contact.

 The Belgrade government has expressed interest in South Korea's anti-communist system and is exploring the possibility of technical cooperation, he said.

 There was news that Bulgaria and Croatia were also making similar moves .

 Colonel Popesk asked me for a special favor.

  The   idea was to convey the Balkan Defense Alliance concept to the Korean government and defense industry.

 He stressed that Romania will take the lead in promoting this project, but that technical support and investment from Korea are absolutely necessary .

 A more long-term vision was presented at the global dinner.

  The Romanian Minister of Defense attended in person and   announced plans to make Korea the European hub for bright Korean defense technology by 2030.

 It was an ambitious plan to build a comprehensive defense ecosystem that included research and development and exports, rather than just a simple production base   .

 In addition, Romania   proposed to create a European training program for young Korean engineers.

 The plan was to establish a technical training center in Brasov to create an environment where Korean and European engineers could study and research together  .

 Deep inside, I also thought that I wanted to watch and learn from the young talents of Korea .

 I thought about it on the plane back to Seoul the next day .

 We were now no longer just an arms exporter, but a key player in reshaping the European defense industry order  .

 Who would have thought that a small betrayal in Poland would lead to such a big change ? As I returned to Korea and was working with France,  shocking news broke out one after another from Poland, from which I had had no contact for a long time.

 I was able to learn about the dire reality of Poland through the briefings provided by the overseas information team every morning  .

 The situation was much more serious than we expected.

 The first news we heard was of a gap in Poland's defenses along its eastern border.

 A leaked internal NATO report said that the Belarusian border area was virtually defenseless as the K239 Cheonmo and Cheon-Gung air defense systems that we had blocked were still not restored   .

 This was the greatest humiliation for Poland.

 According to information provided by Kim Min-su,  distrust of the government had already reached that level within the Polish military.

 There was widespread discontent, especially among field commanders, that national security was at risk because of politicians' hasty attempts to leak technology  .

  The military leadership began to publicly call for a change of government .

 A more serious problem was the economic hit.

 The collapse of the technology transfer deal with Germany's Rheinmetall has  left Poland with billions of dollars in investment in vain.

 In addition, reports have been coming in that existing weapon systems are becoming inoperable one by one as maintenance of Korean-made equipment is being halted  .

 The CIA analysis report that Chief Park Hyun-soo showed me was even more shocking.

 Poland's defense capabilities were assessed to have fallen to about 60% of their level two years ago .

 In particular,    the analysis was that the decline in long-range strike capabilities and air defense capabilities was so severe that it was questionable whether Russia's initial attack could be blocked in the event of an emergency.

 The most ironic situation  was the Polish government's request for restoration, which was almost a national treasure.

 Over the past few months, we have   received a steady stream of messages from the Korean government and our company through various channels pleading for the lifting of the technology blockade.

  There was even news that the Polish president personally sent a letter to the Korean president .

 Team leader Lee Jeong-ho told an interesting backstory.

  There was an  independent attempt to restore our technology in Poland, but it was a complete failure.

 They tried hacking, but they  couldn't get through the security system we designed, and they tried reverse engineering, but it was  impossible because all the core technologies were encrypted.

 What was even funnier was  the news that Poland had reached out to China and Russia.

 The plan was to review the introduction of weapons systems from these countries in order to find a way to replace Korean technology  .

 But it was politically impossible for NATO members to acquire Russian or Chinese weapons .

 In the end, this attempt also failed.

 The Polish media coverage was also dismal.

 Major daily newspapers were churning out articles criticizing the government's performance every day .

 In particular, there was news that public opinion was growing stronger, demanding punishment for those responsible for ruining relations with Korea  .

 Figures like Kowalski and Novak were already socially buried.

 The most dramatic change was in Polish public opinion.

 A public opinion poll   found that more than 80% of the public responded that they want to restore relations with South Korea.

 The overwhelming view was that the country was in danger due to the government's poor judgment .

 Even more serious was the decline in Poland's international standing .

 There is analysis that Poland's voice within NATO has been significantly weakened .

 It was beginning to be perceived as an unreliable partner.

 Even in the United States, there were rumors that they were reconsidering military aid to Poland .

  The most surprising news that Kim Min-soo shared  was public opinion about Korean companies in Poland.

 They are still showing a protective response towards companies like Samsung and LG .

 Rather, he   said there were many voices expressing regret that the government had lost an excellent technology partner due to its own mistakes.

 That evening at home, as I sorted through the Polish news, I had mixed feelings.

 With the idea that it was just retribution for betrayal.

 On the one hand,   there was also the regret that innocent Polish citizens were suffering because of politicians' wrong decisions.

 But that was in the past, and we had to move forward with better partners .