Strengthening naval collaboration between South Korea and the United States
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is currently constructing the Rajah Sulayman, a 2,400-ton offshore patrol vessel, for the Philippine Navy. This significant project was the focus of a recent visit by Korean and US officials to the shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.
The visit, which took place on Wednesday, was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, Acting US Ambassador to Korea Joseph Yun, National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee Chair Kim Seok-ki, and HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Cho Seok. The purpose of the visit was to discuss ways to strengthen their shipbuilding cooperation.
The visit is an indication of the importance of their partnership in the shipbuilding industry. Recent developments in Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation, particularly involving HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, focus on a large-scale partnership under the U.S. initiative to revitalize its shipbuilding industry, known as "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" (MASGA).
South Korea, the world’s second-largest shipbuilder behind China, has proposed a multi-billion dollar investment plan to modernize U.S. shipyards, including possible equity investments, acquisitions, or new construction by Korean firms like HD Hyundai. This cooperation aims to upgrade aging U.S. infrastructure, deploy skilled South Korean labor, and establish a local shipbuilding ecosystem amid tariff negotiations between the two countries.
The negotiations are part of broader trade talks to avoid punitive tariffs, with South Korea emphasizing its technological edge and comprehensive industrial partnership potential compared to countries like Japan. The proposed cooperation would leverage South Korea’s technical strengths in shipbuilding to counter China's dominant global share, which has grown to over 50 percent of commercial ship production by 2025. The U.S. shipbuilding industry has faced delays and capacity issues, creating openings for such partnerships.
The Rajah Sulayman is a significant project for HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, as it is one of the largest offshore patrol vessels they have constructed for a foreign navy. The construction of the Rajah Sulayman is a part of their ongoing cooperation with the Philippine Navy.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries provided a photo of the visit, which was taken in front of the Rajah Sulayman. In the photo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, Acting US Ambassador to Korea Joseph Yun, National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee Chair Kim Seok-ki, and HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Cho Seok are standing in front of the Rajah Sulayman. The photo shows the officials' commitment to strengthening their partnership in the shipbuilding industry.
The visit by the Korean and US officials to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard in Ulsan is a testament to the growing partnership between the two countries in the shipbuilding sector. With the Rajah Sulayman under construction, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries continues to play a crucial role in revitalizing American shipbuilding and maintaining a competitive edge in the global shipbuilding industry.
