Park Jae-hyuk is a seasoned journalist who has provided comprehensive coverage of South Korea's corporate dynamics, economic policies, industry challenges and the global positioning of Korean companies. Based on the articles he has written since joining The Korea Times in 2016, his investigative approach has helped readers understand corporate governance, economic trends and business strategies shaping South Korea’s economy.
Korea ramps up efforts to win Canadian submarine project
The Royal Canadian Navy leadership examines a miniature of Hanwha Ocean's KSS-III submarine at the Korean shipbuilder's exhibition booth for the CANSEC 2025 defense trade show in Ottawa in May. Courtesy of Hanwha Ocean
By Park Jae-hyuk
Gov't supports shipbuilders' bid to defeat European competitors
The Korean shipbuilding industry’s bid to receive orders for patrol submarines from the Royal Canadian Navy has gained momentum under the Lee Jae Myung administration, which is backing domestic firms in a 60 billion Canadian dollar ($44 billion) project against European competitors.
Following the president’s promotion of Korean submarines at the G7 summit in Canada, the government will send a four-star general-turned-lawmaker to the North American nation on Tuesday as a special presidential envoy.
The presidential office announced Sunday that Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea will lead a delegation visiting Canada from July 22 to 27, saying that it will meet Canadian government officials to enhance the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership through cooperation in defense and energy sectors.
Kim said last week that he will visit Canada as a special presidential envoy to create a favorable market environment for Korean defense companies.
The former deputy commander of the Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command has no special connections with Canada. It is also unusual for a new president to send a special envoy to a country with a relatively smaller volume of trade with Korea.
The decision to send the former Army general to Canada has therefore been interpreted as part of the government’s efforts to persuade Ottawa to award Korean firms the contract to build patrol submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy.
President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during their summit on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, June 18. Yonhap
Last month, the president himself expressed the government’s intent to strengthen ties with Canada through Korea’s participation in the submarine project when he met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
During the K-Defense Day ceremony earlier this month, the president reportedly said in a closed-door debate session that his attendance at the G7 summit was intended to ask Canada to buy Korean submarines.
Amid the government’s efforts, Hanwha Ocean decided to open an office in Canada.
The shipbuilder’s decision followed its launch in April of a website to promote exports of its KSS-III submarine to Canada.
“The KSS-III Canadian Patrol Submarine is Korea’s latest evolution in conventional submarine technology — indigenously designed and constructed through decades of spiral development of a modern, conventional, ocean-going submarine,” Hanwha Ocean wrote on the website. “KSS-III is not an export-only model — it is the same class of submarine actively operated by the ROK Navy in real-world conditions.”
In collaboration with domestic rival HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean recently submitted a detailed presentation, promising to deliver the first four submarines by 2035.
The company has also reportedly proposed building maintenance facilities that would employ Canadians.
However, concern remains that Canada may opt for submarines jointly built by Germany and Norway, given the potential for cooperation among NATO member states.
The European countries are reportedly promoting their extensive experience operating submarines in the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic, arguing that Korean submarines are designed and optimized for operations in the warmer waters of the Indo-Pacific region.