This study examines how to strengthen human rights accountability for South Korean exports that risk being misused to suppress democracy or violate human rights in Southeast Asia. Using a case study approach, it analyzes the export of military ships to Myanmar’s defense sector and dual-use security goods (water cannons) to Thailand to identify critical vulnerabilities in the current export control system. The Myanmar case highlights the critical need for proactive measures to prevent the diversion of strategic goods to military-affiliated end-users. To address this, the study proposes concrete legal and procedural reforms. A key recommendation is to incorporate human rights provisions from the ‘Strategic Goods Export and Import Regulations’ into the ‘Defense Industry Act’ to fortify the licensing and review process. Furthermore, it calls for enhanced institutional oversight, including continuous end-user monitoring and utilizing a ‘Denial List’ to manage high-risk entities. The analysis of water cannon exports to Thailand reveals the necessity of controlling dual-use items with potential for human rights abuse. The study suggests amending the ‘Foreign Trade Act’ to provide a legal basis for restricting such items and empowering the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy’s review bodies. Moreover, this paper advocates for a cooperative approach through Official Development Assistance (ODA) to support partner countries in enhancing their legal systems regarding public assembly, developing human rights-friendly guidelines for security equipment, and strengthening the monitoring capacity of local civil society organizations. Ultimately, this research outlines an essential institutional framework to ensure South Korea’s trade and security cooperation in the region is conducted in a human rights-friendly manner.