During the “Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Industry Cooperation Expert Forum” held from June 23 to 25, Chung Ki-sun, Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai Group, emphasized the need for the shipbuilding industries of Korea and the U.S. to establish a future-oriented “Maritime Alliance” to achieve mutual prosperity through technology and talent exchange.
Andrew, the U.S. Embassy’s Commercial Minister in Korea, Lee Seung-yeol, Director of the Industrial Policy Office at Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and over 40 shipbuilding and marine engineering experts from 13 universities in both countries—including Seoul National University, KAIST, the University of Michigan, MIT, Virginia Tech, Stevens Institute of Technology, San Diego State University, and the U.S. Naval Academy—participated in the forum.
On the first day, June 23, a delegation of 11 shipbuilding and marine engineering professors from U.S. universities visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ headquarters in Ulsan. They met with CEO Lee Sang-kyun and Special Vessel Division head Joo Won-ho, toured the commercial and special vessel construction sites at the Ulsan shipyard, and observed production operations, highly commending HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipbuilding efficiency and technological capabilities.
The U.S. delegation received briefings on HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ “Future of Shipyard (FOS)” digital transformation strategy and its “Integrated Shipbuilding Design-Production Platform” based on virtual twin technology. They also inspected the company’s smart shipyard initiatives and shipbuilding sites, gaining deeper insights into HD Hyundai Group’s digital transformation efforts in the shipbuilding sector.
The delegation later visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Autonomous Navigation Ship Research Center in Ulsan’s Dong District, boarding test vessels for observation. They also met with Ulsan City officials to discuss regional shipbuilding and marine education infrastructure projects.
On the morning of June 24, the forum was held at HD Hyundai Group’s Global R&D Center in Pangyo, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. In his opening remarks, Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun stated, “This collaboration will go beyond simple personnel exchange and serve as the starting point for Korea and the U.S. to share shipbuilding and marine technologies while building a future-oriented maritime alliance. For the development and prosperity of both nations’ shipbuilding industries, let us move forward together.”
Professor David Singer from the University of Michigan delivered a keynote speech, saying, “I am in awe of Korean shipyards’ technological capabilities and construction speed. To revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry, securing talent is essential, making collaboration with HD Hyundai Group a great opportunity for the U.S.”
In the afternoon, the forum moved to Seoul National University, where experts shared shipbuilding and marine education programs and operational case studies from Korean institutions. Discussions focused on educational and research cooperation in shipbuilding and marine fields, as well as joint talent development strategies between the two countries.
On June 25, participants explored joint research topics, including smart shipyards.
The forum was co-hosted by HD Hyundai Group, Seoul National University, and Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on July 22 last year between HD Hyundai Group, Seoul National University, and the University of Michigan to jointly cultivate shipbuilding talent. This agreement was initiated after former U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard in February 2023 and proposed cooperation upon witnessing the company’s shipbuilding capabilities.
Under the agreement, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and Seoul National University will collaborate with the University of Michigan on educational programs, joint R&D, and internship initiatives to train U.S. shipbuilding engineers, enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, and promote bilateral business cooperation.
The second session of the “Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Industry Cooperation Expert Forum” is scheduled to take place in the U.S. this October.
