Laser Anti-Aircraft Defense ‘Cheongkwang’ Will Be Positioned Near Presidential Office to Defend Against North Korean Drones

South Korea has deployed its advanced laser air defense weapon, the Cheongwang, also known as the “Korean Star Wars,” near the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul. The system, which is expected to become operational as early as next month, will intercept North Korean drones approaching the critical government compound.

Military officials confirmed on Wednesday that the Cheongwang system was recently installed on the Joint War Simulation Center (JWSC) building within the Yongsan Defense Ministry complex. The JWSC, about 500 meters from the Presidential Office, houses the Ministry of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The decision to introduce the laser air defense system came after several small North Korean drones breached the capital region’s airspace in December 2022, with one briefly penetrating the no-fly zone (P-73) established over the Presidential Office.

This cutting-edge weapon employs a hard-kill method, projecting laser energy directly onto targets for neutralization. Developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) with an 87.1 billion won (approximately $60 million) investment, the system was completed in April 2022. Its cost-effectiveness is notable, with each shot costing only about 2,000 won ($1.50). After receiving combat certification in April 2023, the system is now primed to identify, track, and eliminate North Korean small drones.

Tactical Advantages and Limitations of the Cheongwang System

The Cheongwang, with an estimated 20 kW output, is a fixed ground-based system designed to intercept small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and multicopter drones. During testing, it achieved a perfect hit rate at a distance of 3 kilometers, aligning with the 3.7-kilometer radius of the P-73 no-fly zone around the Defense Ministry.

Roughly the size of a standard shipping container, the system is operated by a three-person team, including a fire control officer and a launch controller. The Army’s Capital Defense Command will oversee the unit stationed near the Presidential Office.

The system offers several key tactical advantages: it operates silently, is invisible to detection, and requires no ammunition. It can also detect and engage targets within seconds, making it a highly efficient tool in countering drone incursions.

However, its effectiveness is limited in adverse weather conditions, such as rain, snow, fog, or heavy cloud cover. Additionally, the system is ineffective against targets hidden by terrain or structures, as it cannot perform indirect fire.

Future Deployments and Strategic Uses

The military plans to utilize Cheongwang as a countermeasure against North Korean drone incursions. However, given the uncertainty of their contents, they do not intend to use it against balloons launched by North Korea.

Sources indicate that Cheongwang will be deployed at the Presidential Office and other critical national facilities.