Meeting in Seoul between Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Senators Duckworth and Kim
Seoul – South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kim Jung-kwan, met in Seoul with US Senators Tammy Duckworth (Illinois) and Andy Kim (New Jersey) to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation and investments in the shipbuilding sector and other industrial sectors.
The minister requested consistent support for Korean companies operating in the United States, hoping that the collaboration would extend from merchant ships to military vessels. He cited the Hanwha Philly Shipyard, active near New Jersey, as an example, which contributes to the training of professionals and the revival of the local naval ecosystem.
During a roundtable, South Korea’s three major shipbuilders – Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai, and Samsung Heavy Industries – emphasized the need for regulatory reforms in the USA to facilitate market access, while also proposing technological and personnel exchanges with American partners.
The senators stated that the revival of the US shipbuilding industry is a national security priority, assuring that Congress will carefully consider the requests made by Korean companies.
According to Kim Hee-sang, South Korea’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Affairs, naval cooperation also played an important role in the recent tariff negotiations between the two countries, confirming the mutual recognition of Korean expertise in shipbuilding.
