South Korean Army chief of staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha (center left) and Lt. Gen. Marek Sokolowski (center right), commander of the Polish Army Headquarters, pose for a photo with South Korean and Polish delegation officials at the Army headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province. (Republic of Korea Army)
South Korean Army chief of staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha (center left) and Lt. Gen. Marek Sokolowski (center right), commander of the Polish Army Headquarters, pose for a photo with South Korean and Polish delegation officials at the Army headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province. (Republic of Korea Army)

A delegation from the Polish Army Headquarters visited South Korea from March 29 for a five-day trip at the invitation of the South Korean Army, engaging in a series of military exchange activities, the South Korean Army said Tuesday.

The visit aims to support stable operational deployment of South Korean-made defense systems recently exported to Poland and to strengthen bilateral cooperation by sharing concepts of military innovation in preparation for future warfare, according to the Army.

The six-member delegation, led by Lt. Gen. Marek Sokolowski, commander of the Polish Army Headquarters, and Brig. Gen. Slawomir Lidva, head of armored and mechanized forces, visited key military and industrial sites, including the Army Logistics Command, a logistics support battalion of the 8th Infantry Division, the Army Logistics School and Hanwha Aerospace.

During the visit, the delegation reviewed South Korea’s smart logistics infrastructure and overall military support systems, with a particular focus on maintenance capabilities for major weapons systems exported to Poland.

Members of a Polish Army delegation observe a maintenance demonstration of a K2 main battle tank at a logistics support battalion under the South Korean Army’s 8th Infantry Division. (Republic of Korea Army)
Members of a Polish Army delegation observe a maintenance demonstration of a K2 main battle tank at a logistics support battalion under the South Korean Army’s 8th Infantry Division. (Republic of Korea Army)

They also examined the Republic of Korea Army’s maintenance systems, technologies and operational capabilities supporting the K2 main battle tank, K9 self-propelled howitzer and Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system — key platforms delivered to Poland under recent defense export deals.

South Korean Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha met Sokolowski at the Army headquarters in Gyeryongdae on March 31, where the two sides discussed ways to expand military exchanges and cooperation.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in maintenance, repair and overhaul to ensure that key weapons systems exported to Poland remain in optimal condition. They also pledged to expand exchanges in emerging domains such as artificial intelligence, drones and robotics.

“Through regular consultative meetings, international training programs and personnel exchanges, the two armies have steadily strengthened ties,” Kim said, expressing hope that the visit would further advance cooperation not only in maintenance, repair and overhaul, but also in advanced future domains.

Sokolowski said the visit provided an opportunity to directly observe the South Korean military’s systematic logistics support and maintenance capabilities, adding that bilateral relations developed through defense cooperation would continue to expand through broader military exchanges.


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