Speeches

Farewell Message

April 2021

 

Today, I will be leaving my position with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), where I have been honored to serve as the 23rd president. I bid farewell to all my beloved colleagues.

Even amidst the COVID-19 crisis, we have resolutely endeavored to develop classified weapon systems, which provide protection to our citizens from the North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and successfully renewed our R&D portfolio to include challenge driven emerging technologies, such as AI & Autonomy, AESA & Quantum/Photonic Radar, Laser Weapon, High-Energy Material, Synthetic Biology, and others. Via the development of military communications and reconnaissance satellites, we have opened doors to the outer space, and we are now ambitiously pioneering disruptive innovations for game-changing weapons and the K-Mosaic Warfare. Hence, I would like to take this moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of you for your dedication which allowed us this fortunate opportunity to achieve all the promised R&D goals. I am also deeply grateful to you that we have received the highest Institution Evaluation score among government-funded S&T research institutions in the last three years.

My beloved fellow colleagues! As was praised by President Moon Jae-in on our 50th anniversary, ADD is the foundation of self-reliant, robust national defense, and all of you are true patriots defending and promoting Korea’s national security and peace. While participating in Korea’s Defense Innovation, I have mostly focused on strengthening the capabilities of our organization under the slogan of Innovative ADD, which included restructuring of our organization. Now, carrying out disruptive S&T innovations is left to you and the next president. I have great faith that you will endlessly envision the uncharted territories of defense science, unwaveringly pioneer the frontier, and continue to promote ADD as a leading global research agency.

It has truly been a long time. The nostalgic memories since 1978 race through my mind, flashing before my eyes. I shall now return to a simple and gratified life with my beloved wife, leaving behind all the blissful memories I had at ADD. Thank you very much and farewell!


Dr. Sae Kyu Nam

23rd President of the Agency for Defense Development

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