Since the opening of the DAPA in 2006, we have consolidated the foundation for improving our defense acquisition and industry programs through innovation of various systems by introducing the IPT system and building an integrated project management system in order to enhance the transparency, efficiency and professionalism of defense projects and strengthen the competitiveness of defense industry, and striven for the strengthening of the fighting power of our armed forces and successful achievement of 'a new economic growth motorization of defense industry.'

But as military tension is building up between North and South Korea along with the recent global economic crisis, our people's attention is concentrating more than ever on the defense capacity improvement projects. So now is the time for us to change our way of thinking and make an innovative change to meet such a need of the times.

To cope with such a new environment, the DAPA aims at a second takeoff to a 'world-class acquisition agency' by securing transparency of a higher level, creating an innovative work efficiency, enhancing more tangible professionalism and strengthening substantial defense industry competitiveness.

For these purposes, we will keep and maintain manpower dedicated to acquisition, develop the defense industry cost system, accumulate advanced defense industry technologies, improve the test and evaluation systems, renovate the defense industry and defense export organizations, and discover tasks that have more depth than ever, so that we can explore a blue ocean that has never been dealt with properly in the defense acquisition and defense industry fields.

Finally, I would like to make a promise that all DAPA personnel including me will do our best to facilitate communication between our people, military and defense industry so that the DAPA can be reborn as an agency dedicated to defense acquisition that meets the needs of our people and the times.

Thank you.

Chang, Soo Man
Commissioner
Defense Acquisition Program Administration
Republic of Korea