Korea Unveils Hyunmoo-5, Laser Weapon at Armed Forces Day
46 Types of Weapons Systems and Key Equipment, About 70 Units on Display
'Cheongwang' High-Power Laser Shoots Down Drone in Live Demonstration
President Lee Vows to Accelerate AI, High-Power Missile Development
President Lee Jae-myung reviews the troops from a parade vehicle during a ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
President Lee Jae-myung reviews the troops from a parade vehicle during a ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
The Black Eagles perform an advanced maneuver during the 78th Armed Forces Day event on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
President Lee Jae-myung reviews the troops from a parade vehicle during a ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
South Korea showcased core advanced weapons systems including the Hyunmoo-5 ultra-high-power surface-to-surface ballistic missile and the homegrown Cheongwang laser air defense weapon at the 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony held at Gyeryongdae on the 1st, with President Lee Jae-myung in attendance.
Under the theme "Realizing Self-Reliant Defense! An Irreplaceable Military," the event featured 46 types of weapons systems and key equipment totaling about 70 units. Among them were the Hyunmoo-5, dubbed the "monster missile" for its 8-ton warhead, as well as the Cheongung-II, the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, the K2 tank, the K-9 self-propelled howitzer and the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher.
Aircraft fly in formation during an aerial review at the 78th Armed Forces Day event on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
An Apache helicopter fires flares during a ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
A drone falls after being hit by a laser from Cheongwang, a new counter-drone interception weapon, during the 78th Armed Forces Day event on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
The Black Eagles perform an advanced maneuver during the 78th Armed Forces Day event on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
The ceremony also included a live demonstration in which the domestically developed Cheongwang laser air defense weapon intercepted a drone. Cheongwang uses a high-power laser to neutralize enemy drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, and the demonstration showed it shooting down a target drone.
Future warfare equipment also made its debut, including AI-based swarm drones, counter-drone interceptor drones and multipurpose unmanned ground vehicles.
"We will redesign our entire defense posture to leap forward as a smart, elite and strong military," Lee said in his commemorative address. "We will accelerate the development of future combat capabilities, including high-energy laser interceptor weapons, AI-based command and control systems and high-power missiles."
A taekwondo demonstration is held during the 78th Armed Forces Day event on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
A color guard enters during the 78th Armed Forces Day event on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
An honor guard demonstration is held during the 78th Armed Forces Day event on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
Marine Corps troops stand in formation during the 78th Armed Forces Day event on the runway at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, Chungcheongnam-do, on Oct. 1. 2026.10.1 Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps
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