Melanie Joly visits HD Hyundai

Story provided by The Fact and Reporter Hwang Ji-hyang

On the 25th, Melanie Joly, Canada's Minister of Industry is looking at models of future ships, submarines, frigates, and other vessels at the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. /HD Hyundai

[The Fact | Reporter Hwang Ji-hyang] Canada's Minister of Industry, Melanie Joly, who holds the decision-making authority for the 60 trillion won Canadian Submarine Program (CPSP), visited HD Hyundai to confirm its shipbuilding capabilities.

HD Hyundai announced on the 25th that Minister Jolly and Canadian Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lafortune and their delegation visited the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center (hereinafter referred to as GRC) in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province.

Minister Joly and her entourage toured models of futuristic ships, submarines, frigates, and unmanned surface vehicles in the first-floor lobby, then chatted with Vice Chairman Cho Seok of HD Hyundai and President Joo Won-ho of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Vice Chairman Cho said, "HD Hyundai is the world's leading shipbuilder with world-class shipbuilding technology and production capabilities, and I am confident that they will be Canada's optimal business partner." He added, "We will explore ways to cooperate with Canada not only in the shipbuilding business but also in various industries such as shipbuilding, energy, robotics, and AI."

HD Hyundai has the capacity to build over 200 merchant ships annually. To date, it has built 106 vessels, exporting 18 of them overseas. Last year, it successfully delivered the 3,000-ton submarine Shin Chae-ho to the Navy.

At the Digital Convergence Center, Minister Jolly reviewed AI-based shipbuilding solutions, hybrid electric propulsion ships, and digital twin virtual sea trials. At the Digital Control Center, he observed the operational status of global ships built by HD Hyundai and currently in operation.

K-Shipbuilding One Team, comprised of Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), and Hanwha Ocean, was shortlisted for the Canadian Navy's submarine acquisition program in August. The project, valued at up to 60 trillion won (approximately $54 billion USD), aims to secure twelve 3,000-ton submarines to replace the four 2,400-ton Victoria-class submarines currently being procured by the Royal Navy.