Korean THAAD deployment accelerates
South Korea's deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is accelerating with the Ministry of National Defence (MND) signing an agreement with Lotte International for a proposed THAAD site, MND announced on 23 November.
The MND signed the agreement with Lotte International to acquire Lotte Skyhill Seongju Country Club (Seongju golf course), which has been selected as a THAAD deployment site. It plans to select an assessment and appraisal institution to calculate the market value of the site following which an exchange contract will proceed.
The site was selected in September. It will be exchanged with the military reservation in Namyangju.
The military reservation in Namyangju covers an area of 200,000 square metres; while the area of the Seongju golf course is 1.48 million square metres. Seongju golf course will come into the MND’s possession when MND and Lotte finalise their negotiation based on site appraisal and assessment results. Following the acquisition of Seongju golf course, the MND will hand over the site to the US Forces Korea that will operate THAAD in accordance with the Korea-US Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
The US bears all the costs for the THAAD development and operation, whereas Korea provides the site and infrastructure development.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Early prototype of General Dynamics M1E3 main battle tank displayed at Detroit auto show]()
Early prototype of General Dynamics M1E3 main battle tank displayed at Detroit auto show
The first prototype M1E3 main battle tank was handed over to the US Army for testing and evaluation earlier this year, and now a pre-prototype has been unveiled. What have we learned from the vehicle first seen on 14 January?
-
![Bulgaria to receive first Strykers in February as part of force equipment refresh]()
Bulgaria to receive first Strykers in February as part of force equipment refresh
The delivery of the Stryker infantry fighting vehicles will form one piece of the country’s effort to re-equip its forces, which includes F-16 fighter jets and new air defence systems.
-
![Rheinmetall KF41 Lynx fighting vehicles set for first taste of combat in Ukraine]()
Rheinmetall KF41 Lynx fighting vehicles set for first taste of combat in Ukraine
A June 2024 agreement with Ukraine for Rheinmetall to provide 10 KF41s along with the establishment of a manufacturing facility in the country has moved a step closer, with the factory now built and a contract signed.
-
![Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows]()
Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows
Germany’s move to buy Israel Aerospace Industries’ Arrow missile defence system became public in mid-2023 with approval from the US government shortly after. The first operational system is expected to be in service before 2030.
-
![Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned]()
Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned
Procurement of various short-range systems will begin in the first quarter of 2026, with additional procurements to be made later in the year.
