Geoje Journal mobile site, Korea’s leading defense company Hanwha Ocean “will become a model for K-Maritime Defense Industry”

‘Luxury’ naval surface ships are being built one after another… Construction of future ships is also ‘currently in progress’
Strengthening the status of Gyeongnam as a ‘defense industry mecca’…expanding investment in the defense industry

Okpo Bay, Geoje City, where Hanwha Ocean is located, is the site of the first victory of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who saved the country from the danger of disaster during the Japanese invasions of Korea.

In Okpo Bay, where the legend of the 23-game victory began, Hanwha Ocean started with the delivery of the patrol ship ‘Anyang’ in 1983 and has been carrying out the KDX-I, II, III project, a Korean destroyer project, and the Jang Bogo-I, II, III project, a submarine project. It has established itself as the only defense company in Korea that has carried out all of this.

There is a sea called by a special name in front of the Jinhae Naval Academy parade ground, where the Yi Sun-shin Defense Industry Exhibition will be held from the 24th.

At this place, where the future Republic of Korea Navy is trained, prospective Naval Academy cadets undergo a special ceremony after completing their first enrolment training. This is the first time to enter the sea as a sign of entering the true navy, and that sea is also ‘Okpo Bay’.

Hanwha Ocean, located at ‘Okpo Bay’, the site of Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s first victory, and the sea in front of the parade ground, called ‘Okpo Bay’ with pride for the Naval Academy cadets, face each other from afar and stand uprightly in their respective positions for the security of the Republic of Korea and the well-being of the people. I am building my skills.

Hanwha Ocean invests in defense industry to strengthen status as ‘defense industry mecca, Gyeongnam’

Gyeongsangnam-do is the mecca of the defense industry representing Korea. It has established itself as the center of the defense industry, starting from the sea, moving beyond land and sky, and into space.

Hanwha Ocean is sparing no investment in revitalizing the economy of the Gyeongnam region by fostering the maritime defense industry. Last year, Hanwha Ocean decided to invest about 780 billion won of the funds raised through paid-in capital increase in its Geoje plant, expecting an economic ripple effect.

In particular, Hanwha Ocean is working to build new specialized facilities for ship construction and secure depot maintenance facilities for MRO projects. Following the recent completion of the submarine Yanggang Mast factory, construction of an indoor advanced loading dock and multi-purpose assembly factory will begin in June.

The plan is to become a specialized construction facility for all ships, including the simultaneous construction of four domestic and foreign submarines and two surface ships.

Through such investments, Hanwha Ocean is expected to contribute to strengthening the status of ‘Gyeongnam as a defense industry mecca’ and revitalizing the local economy by doubling its shipbuilding capabilities and at the same time promoting economic trickle-down effects through facility investment.

Hanwha Ocean plans to secure the ability to build high-quality surface ships that maximize operational performance and make every effort to win orders for domestic and foreign ships, including the next-generation Korean next-generation destroyer (KDDX) project scheduled for bidding in the second half of the year through continuous research and development.

Hanwha Ocean is currently designing the Ulsan-class Batch-Ⅲ 5th and 6th ships, which it received orders for in November last year. We are also making efforts to contribute to improving Korea’s defense capabilities by carefully preparing for the Korean next-generation destroyer (KDDX) project, which will be ordered in the second half of the year.

Lee Yong-wook, head of Hanwha Ocean’s Special Ship Business Division, said, “Hanwha Ocean is Korea’s representative marine and defense company,” and added, “It is a renowned surface ship company in name and reality that has the experience and technology to build all types of large combat ships for the Korean Navy through proper management.”

He continued, “Based on our experience in carrying out the first conceptual design for KDDX, we will focus all our capabilities on the detailed design and construction of the lead ship for the next Korean destroyer, a core force of the future navy that will support national security and prosperity.”

He added, “Currently, we are putting the Jang Bogo-III Batch-II submarine, which has the world’s best performance in its class, at the forefront to export submarines to Poland, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and the Philippines, and are working to enter the U.S. MRO business.” “It will serve as an example for pioneering the global market,” he added.