The Agency for Defense Development is the South Korean national agency for research and development in defense technology, funded by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). It was established in August 1970 under the banner of the self-reliant national defense promoted by President Park Chung Hee.

The defense industry of South Korea is the main supplier of armaments to the Republic of Korea's Armed Forces. Originally reliant on the United States to supply weapons to its armed forces, South Korea started to manufacture its own weapons through the country's modernization and military reforms. Today, South Korea enjoys a robust defense industry and is the world's 8th largest weapons exporter.