국산 전투기 KF-21의 위업, ‘영웅 서사’라는 그림자에 가려진 진실 > K-wave Trends

The ‘Dr. Park Si-mong technology leak theory’ that has recently spread mainly on YouTube and various communities is a typical exaggerated content that replaces the success of KF-21 with the patriotic devotion of a specific individual. The claim is that Dr. Park leaked the F-22's flight control software technology and endured punishment in the United States in return, and describes it as if the KF-21 could not have existed without this technology. However, it is difficult to avoid criticism that this narrative oversimplifies the complex and intense engineering efforts in actual development sites. In relation to this, KAI clearly stated that there was no collaboration or technology sharing with the person in question, and officially declared that the suspicion was unfounded.

The reason why KAI launched such an unusually strong rebuttal is because it goes beyond a simple misunderstanding and could pose a fatal risk to the national task of exporting the defense industry. Theft of technology is a very sensitive issue in the international defense industry market, and in particular, suspicions of theft of American technology may cause serious diplomatic friction in future international partnerships and intellectual property rights issues. In a situation where complex interests are already intertwined, such as the cost-sharing issue with Indonesia, groundless heroism results in undermining the transparency and legitimacy of the Korean defense industry. Although researchers have secured independent technologies for many years in compliance with strict laws and international standards, they are deeply concerned that online rumors are distorting these achievements as stolen technology.

Regardless of the controversy over the development background, the KF-21 project is advancing technologically enough to lead the future air combat system. Recently, KAI unveiled a blueprint for the next-generation air combat system (NACS), which links the KF-21 with a manned and unmanned complex combat system, and presented an AI-based future warfare paradigm that goes beyond simple manned aircraft development. This is not dependent on a specific person's idea or the introduction of external technology, but is the result of the rapid development of domestic aerospace technology and system integration capabilities. In addition, the resolution of the contribution controversy with Indonesia and the visualization of the transfer of the prototype should be evaluated as a strategic victory in that Korea has secured a base in the Southeast Asian defense industry market through technology transfer and follow-up support.

Some people point out KAI's belated response and criticize that they should have communicated proactively before distorted information spreads. The analysis is that the public's fatigue and immersion have become too great to correct the narrative that has already become a 'legend' among defense industry enthusiasts. Nevertheless, the company's clear disclosure of the facts through an official statement was an essential measure to prevent potential legal liability and loss of credibility that may arise in the future. Now is the time to reexamine the value of the fact-based achievements and challenges that thousands of engineers have accumulated over 10 years and 6 months, rather than online interest-oriented content.