KBRN, Jakarta: Key defense cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea took center stage at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2025 Summit in Gyeongju, where Indonesian Presidents Prabowo Subianto and South Korea President Lee Jae-myung reaffirmed their commitment to the joint development of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. Both leaders acknowledged the need for further negotiations on financial terms.

The KF-21 project, a cornerstone of bilateral defense collaboration, was discussed during a bilateral meeting held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit.

“We will continue to discuss the follow-up to the KF-21 project. Negotiators are pressing ahead, and of course, talks always depend on economic factors, pricing, and the financing scheme,” President Prabowo said in a recorded statement received in Jakarta, as quoted by antaranews.com.

He confirmed that Indonesian ministers and technical teams are scheduled to hold detailed discussions with the South Korean government to finalize the project’s terms.

In response, President Lee Jae-myung expressed optimism about the collaboration, emphasizing the depth of existing cooperation in developing the fighter aircraft.

“I hope this will lead to greater achievements for both of us, and that we can continue this fine example of cooperation,” President Lee said. He also expressed his desire to elevate bilateral ties across other sectors, including trade, investment, and the broader economy.

President Prabowo conveyed his appreciation for the close partnership between Indonesia and South Korea, both in defense and economic sectors. He noted that communication between the Indonesian government and South Korean industry leaders has been intensive over the past year.

“I’ve met with Korean industrial and business leaders during their visits to Indonesia. We had extensive discussions, and we are very open to Korea’s continued participation in our economy. We look forward to continuing this cooperation,” Prabowo concluded. ***