Carlos Del Toro, then U.S. Secretary of the Navy, visits HD Hyundai Heavy Industries headquarters in Ulsan on February 27, 2024, during the Biden administration. (Photo provided by HD Hyundai)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — As U.S. President Donald Trump signals interest in closer cooperation with South Korea’s shipbuilding industry, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has reaffirmed its commitment to working with the United States on naval shipbuilding and repair capabilities.
Speaking at a Hudson Institute event in Washington, D.C., on February 19, Ji-hoon Kim, an executive in HD Hyundai’s special ship division, underscored the company’s willingness to support U.S. security efforts in the Indo-Pacific. “We recognize that a country in the region is presenting significant security challenges through market-disrupting actions,” Kim said.
“As one of the world’s leading shipbuilders, we aim to collaborate with the U.S. to enhance naval construction and repair capabilities, ultimately strengthening operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific while bolstering America’s defense industrial base.”
The event focused on enhancing the U.S. Navy’s ability to build and maintain vessels efficiently, amid growing concerns in Washington over America’s ability to compete with China in naval power. Increasingly, policymakers and scholars advocate for stronger alliances with South Korea and Japan to expand U.S. shipbuilding capacity.
When asked whether HD Hyundai would pursue investments in American shipyards—similar to Hanwha’s recent acquisition of Philly Shipyard—or seek direct partnerships with existing U.S. firms, Kim responded, “Both options are possible.”
He noted that in the short term, the company could explore “creative ways” to collaborate, potentially starting with the construction of naval support vessels based on commercial ship designs. Over the long term, HD Hyundai is keen on making strategic investments to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and create American jobs.
The event also featured Nicholas Guertin, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition under the Biden administration. Guertin highlighted multiple approaches to reinforcing U.S. naval capabilities, including foreign direct investment, contracting with overseas shipbuilders, benchmarking global best practices, and expanding the domestic workforce.
He praised the ongoing collaboration between U.S. shipbuilder NASSCO and South Korean firms, citing it as a model for successful international partnerships. He also expressed enthusiasm over Hanwha’s acquisition of Philly Shipyard, emphasizing its potential to enhance U.S. shipbuilding capacity.
The discussions underscore the growing consensus in Washington that international cooperation, particularly with South Korean and Japanese shipbuilders, could play a pivotal role in strengthening America’s naval capabilities amid rising geopolitical tensions.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
