South Korea and the United States Plan to 'Strengthen' Shipbuilding Ties
Posted on Jun 27, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Seoul's Trade Ministry announced on Tuesday that South Korea will begin an educational exchange programme inviting faculty and students from prominent American universities to participate in short-term shipbuilding engineering training beginning next year.
Significantly, the move coincides with the two nations' efforts to strengthen their collaboration in the shipbuilding industry, which has become a major topic of conversation in the ongoing bilateral tariff talks.
The Agreement's Importance for Maritime Education
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Seoul National University, San Diego State University, and HD Hyundai Co.
Starting in 2026, Seoul National University will invite 20 to 30 shipbuilding engineering faculty and students to South Korea for brief training sessions. Additionally, participants will receive hands-on, on-site design training from HD Hyundai.
Moreover, the agreement is an extension of a similar partnership between Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., the University of Michigan, and Seoul National University that was signed in July 2024.
The ministry also stated that the two nations intend to progressively broaden their academic collaboration to include ship design experts at American shipyards.
Maritime Engineering Courses cover shipbuilding engineering, ship design, construction, maintenance, naval architecture, and shipyard management, and necessitate a solid understanding of mathematics, physics, and engineering fundamentals.
Korea-US Leaders Forum: Discussions' High Points
HD Hyundai hosted on June 24, the Korea-U.S. Leaders Forum on Education and Research on Shipbuilding at its Global R&D Centre in Pangyo, Korea, following a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding signed in July last year between HD Hyundai, Seoul National University, and the University of Michigan.
The forum, co-hosted by HD Hyundai and Seoul National University, marked the first collaboration between Korean and US experts since the launch of the new administration, attracting significant attention from industry stakeholders.
Besides, the forum featured distinguished guests like Chung Kisun, Executive Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai, Lee Seung-ryeol, Deputy Minister of Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, and Andrew Gately, Commercial Minister-Counselor of the U.S. Embassy in Korea. A panel of top experts from seven Korean universities and six American universities, including over 40 experts in shipbuilding and marine engineering, participated.
Notably, Chung emphasised the beginning of a maritime alliance between Korea and the United States, aiming to share technologies and visions, and work together for the growth and prosperity of both nations' shipbuilding industries.
Likewise, Professor David Singer of the University of Michigan praised Korean shipyards for their ability to produce large and intricate vessels in record time, stating that investing in talent is crucial for rejuvenating the US shipbuilding industry. He highlighted the potential for expanding collaboration with HD Hyundai as an exceptional opportunity.
Furthermore, the forum at SNU showcased shipbuilding and maritime engineering curricula, sharing best practices and joint educational strategies. It highlighted binational collaboration for talent cultivation. On June 25, discussions focused on joint research themes, including “Smart Yard” technologies for digital transformation in shipbuilding.
Eventually, prior to the forum, U.S. participants toured the commercial and naval & special shipyards at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan headquarters on Monday, June 23 and received an update on the company's autonomous navigation technologies and smart shipyard initiatives. The second Korea–U.S. Shipbuilding Leaders Forum is set to take place in the U.S. in October.
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