Hanwha chairman pledges AI defense push, deeper Korea-US shipbuilding ties SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - South Korea's Hanwha Group is eager to strengthen its long-term competitiveness by securing core technologies in key businesses, including artificial intelligence-driven defense systems, while playing a leading role in South Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation, Chairman Kim Seung-youn said in a New Year's message on Friday. Kim said Hanwha had spearheaded bilateral industrial cooperation symbolized by the MASGA initiative and grown into a national champion in defense and shipbuilding over the past year. He said the group is now “recognized as an essential engine for industry and society,” adding that this status carries greater responsibility. Kim emphasized a shift toward a technology-led growth strategy. “To secure competitiveness over the next 50 or 100 years, we must possess the foundational technologies that will shape the future in key business areas such as AI defense,” he said. He called on Hanwha to focus on future-leading technologies across its portfolio, including defense, aerospace, maritime, energy, materials, finance, machinery and services. By business unit, Kim urged the energy and materials divisions to respond proactively to global policy changes and ongoing restructuring in the petrochemical sector. In finance, he proposed expanding global operations by combining digital assets and artificial intelligence, while the services unit should develop new growth models through closer integration with machinery businesses, including AI-based solutions. Kim also highlighted MASGA as a central pillar of Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation, saying Hanwha must position itself as a trusted strategic partner in global markets. He said the initiative should be planned and executed with a sense of full responsibility, centered on the company’s U.S.-based Philly Shipyard, and that cooperation in warship and nuclear-powered submarine construction should further deepen bilateral ties. Pointing to Hanwha Ocean’s decision to pay performance bonuses to workers at partner companies at the same rate as those for directly employed staff, he stressed that partner-company employees and local communities are integral to the group’s operations. On safety, Kim delivered a firm message, calling it a core value for sustainable management. “Results cannot replace a life,” he said. Kim also said Hanwha has turned a long-envisioned future into reality by entering the era of private space and establishing itself as a key player in the global defense industry. He credited employees for their continued dedication and urged them to work together to further strengthen the group. 2026-01-02 13:46:01

LIG Nex1 to develop core technologies for Korea's combat unmanned surface vessel SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korean defense company LIG Nex1 has begun developing core technologies for a combat unmanned surface vessel (USV), in a move aimed at advancing the Navy’s manned-unmanned combined maritime combat capability. LIG Nex1 said on Tuesday it signed an agreement on Dec. 19 with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) to develop an integrated control system and an autonomous mission system for a combat USV under a packaged weapon-system technology program. The program was planned by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in cooperation with KIAT to secure key technologies ahead of the Batch-II system development phase of the combat USV, the company said. LIG Nex1 will act as the lead research and development contractor, overseeing the overall project. About 49 billion won in government funding will be invested over 60 months through December 2030 to develop an integrated control system, a weapon operation and launch-control system, and an autonomous mission system for the combat USV. The technologies are described as essential to the Navy’s Sea GHOST manned-unmanned maritime combat concept. The plan calls, for the first time in South Korea, for mounting a 20-millimeter-class remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) on a USV and applying launch and operation technologies for the Bigung guided rocket and loitering munitions. The aim is to significantly enhance long-range precision-strike capabilities for unmanned maritime platforms. LIG Nex1 said the integrated control system will link sensors, weapons and onboard systems to improve operational efficiency and survivability. The company plans to combine its control technologies with artificial-intelligence-based systems to enable real-time data processing and decision-making and command functions. An LIG Nex1 official said the project represents an important opportunity to help the South Korean Navy secure future combat capabilities and to strengthen the company’s competitiveness in the global USV market. LIG Nex1 aims to develop derivative models tailored to country-specific requirements to boost the international appeal of South Korean unmanned naval systems. 2025-12-23 14:12:56

Samsung Heavy secures key certification for 'floating nuclear reactor' design SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said on Monday it has received preliminary certification for its floating nuclear power platform equipped with small modular reactors, marking a key step in its push into the emerging maritime nuclear energy market. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) granted Approval in Principle (AIP) for Samsung Heavy’s Floating Small Modular Reactor (FSMR) design, which incorporates two SMART 100 reactors developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), the company said. The SMART 100 is a 100-megawatt integrated small modular reactor that received standard design approval from South Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission in September 2024. Under the project, Samsung Heavy integrated the SMR technology with a floating structure. It carried out the overall design of the nuclear power facility and developed a multi-barrier reactor containment system, while KAERI modified the reactor design for maritime use. Ahn Young-kyu, head of Samsung Heavy’s technology development division, described the certification as a “significant milestone” in the company’s efforts to pioneer the maritime nuclear power sector. “We will continue to secure safe and economical maritime nuclear technologies by leveraging our expertise in floating structures,” Ahn said in a press release. Samsung Heavy said the FSMR is a flexible floating nuclear facility concept capable of accommodating different SMR types. Its compartment-based design allows the reactor section to be adapted without altering the overall platform structure, improving scalability and construction efficiency. Safety and efficiency are further enhanced by housing the reactor and key safety systems within a single containment module, enabling land-based testing before offshore installation, the company said. Cho Jin-young, director of KAERI’s Advanced Reactor Research Division, said the approval validated the competitiveness of South Korea’s SMR technology. “This AIP certification using SMART 100 demonstrates the innovation of our nuclear technology,” Cho said. “We will accelerate development to establish South Korea as a leader in the marine nuclear industry.” * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 15:47:59

South Korea's SeAH secures long-term aluminum supply deal with Boeing SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - SeAH Aerospace & Defense Materials, a unit of SeAH Besteel Holdings, said on Monday it has signed a long-term supply agreement with Boeing to provide high-strength aluminum alloy materials for commercial aircraft. Under the deal, SeAH Aerospace will begin supplying aluminum alloys used in aircraft fuselages and wings to the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer from 2026, the company said. Financial terms were not disclosed. The agreement follows a direct contract signed with Boeing last year, under which SeAH Aerospace demonstrated its quality competitiveness and ability to deliver consistently to the aerospace industry’s stringent standards. High-strength aluminum alloys used in aircraft structural components require strict process control and quality stability across the entire production chain, from raw material intake and extrusion to heat treatment, machining and inspection. SeAH Aerospace said its global-standard quality management system and material traceability capabilities met Boeing’s rigorous certification requirements. The long-term contract also secures initial production volumes for a new 2,300-ton aluminum plant currently under construction in Changnyeong County, which is scheduled to begin full-scale operations in 2027. The facility is expected to support stable operations and improve cost competitiveness. SeAH continues to expand its high value-added materials portfolio focused on the aerospace and defense sectors. The company already supplies materials to major global aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus Defense and Space, China’s COMAC, Brazil’s Embraer and Canada’s Bombardier. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 14:50:59

South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace showcases locally built K9 artillery in Egypt SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace showcased its K9 self-propelled howitzers at the Egypt International Defense and Security Exhibition (EDEX 2025) in Cairo, drawing strong interest from regional visitors, the company said Thursday. The firm operated a joint exhibition space with Egypt’s Ministry of Defense, displaying the K9 howitzer alongside ground and guided weapon systems. The biennial exhibition, the largest of its kind in the Middle East and Africa, drew more than 450 companies and over 40,000 visitors. In 2022, Hanwha Aerospace secured a package export agreement with Egypt worth about 2 trillion won (approximately $1.5 billion), covering K9 self-propelled howitzers, K10 ammunition resupply vehicles and K11 command armored vehicles. At this year’s exhibition, six K9 units and associated K10 and K11 vehicles were displayed outdoors. The systems, scheduled for delivery to the Egyptian military in the first quarter of next year, are adapted for desert operations with specialized coatings and enhanced dust-protection features. Hanwha is manufacturing the K9 in Egypt with performance specifications matching systems produced in South Korea. Following delays linked to German engine supply, the company localized engine production to reduce supply-chain risk. South Korean engineers are supporting local facilities with assembly, welding and machining to stabilize production. The company plans to gradually expand local manufacturing of core components to deepen long-term industrial cooperation. Building on the K9 program, Hanwha aims to accelerate its expansion across the Middle East and North Africa defense markets. Other systems on display included the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, coastal defense missiles, a 40mm unmanned air defense system, L-SAM long-range surface-to-air interceptors and naval platforms, including submarines. “The Egyptian people take great pride in producing the K9 locally through technological cooperation with South Korea,” said Sung Il, head of Hanwha Aerospace’s Middle East and Africa division. “We aim to expand into broader regional markets through this partnership.” * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-11 09:24:56

South Korea's Hanwha Ocean wins $255 million order for two large oil carriers SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean said Tuesday it has secured an order for two very-large crude carriers (VLCCs), valued at 375.3 billion won ($255 million). The VLCCs will be built at the company’s Geoje shipyard. Company officials say improved conditions in the international oil market are fueling new orders. Rising production and exports by OPEC members have lifted VLCC freight rates, while the aging of the global tanker fleet is accelerating replacement demand. With the latest deal, Hanwha Ocean has secured orders for 43 vessels so far this year. Those include 19 VLCCs, 17 container ships, six LNG carriers and one icebreaking research vessel, with a combined value of about $7.96 billion. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-02 14:35:25

South Korean shipowners warn against foreign sale of Hyundai LNG Shipping SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s shipping industry has raised alarms over the potential sale of Hyundai LNG Shipping, the country’s largest liquefied gas carrier operator, to a foreign buyer, warning the deal could undermine national energy security. The Korea Shipowners’ Association said Wednesday that IMM Private Equity and IMM Investment are in talks to sell the company to Indonesia’s Sinar Mas Group. Hyundai LNG Shipping operates 12 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and six liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers. Calling the prospective transaction a “national loss,” the association said the transfer of major energy-transport assets abroad could expose sensitive information, including LNG transport know-how and vessel-operation data. Such leakage, it warned, may affect Korea Gas Corporation’s long-term shipping contracts. A reduced domestic share of LNG transport could also weaken the country’s energy supply chain, the group added. The association said the planned sale runs counter to government policy aimed at securing a 70 percent utilization rate of domestic vessels for strategic energy shipments and discouraging the sale of related assets overseas. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 16:48:57

Hanwha Systems expands Gumi plant with new high-tech defense facility SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - South Korea's Hanwha Systems has opened a new production complex in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, following a 2.8 trillion won (approximately $2.1 billion) investment aimed at expanding its next-generation defense and electronic systems capabilities. The company said Tuesday that a completion ceremony was held at the site, with CEO Son Jae-il, local government officials, lawmakers, military officials, and partners among the 250 attendees. The expansion doubles the Gumi site to 89,000 square meters and is intended to strengthen South Korea’s defense industrial base while supporting rising global demand for advanced military systems. The new facility includes a cleanroom dedicated to precision manufacturing of electro-optical systems, radar components, and naval combat equipment. Hanwha Systems expects the plant to serve as a core export base and a center for technological innovation. In naval systems, the company plans to accelerate development of AI-enabled technologies, including automated engagement systems, autonomous vessel navigation, and intelligent propulsion control — critical capabilities for future unmanned platforms. The Gumi plant will produce multifunction radars and advanced combat systems, both key export categories for Hanwha Systems. The company has secured several major overseas contracts in recent years, including a $1.3 billion agreement with the UAE in 2022, a $1.2 billion deal with Saudi Arabia in 2024, and an $860 million contract with Iraq this year. It is also expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia, supplying combat systems to 13 vessels in the Philippine Navy. “The Gumi facility is meaningful not only for Hanwha Systems but for the local community,” CEO Son said. “It will support economic revitalization, create quality jobs, and serve as a strategic base for the sustainable growth of Korea’s defense industry.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-25 14:02:48

South Korea's HD Hyundai celebrates 5,000th ship delivery SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s HD Hyundai has become the world's first shipbuilder in the world to deliver 5,000 vessels. The company commemorated the achievement with a ceremony at its flagship shipyard in Ulsan. HD Hyundai delivered its first vessel — the Atlantic Baron, a 260,000-ton very large crude carrier — in 1974. In the five decades since, it has supplied ships to more than 700 customers across 68 countries. The 5,000th vessel, the Diego Silang, is a 118.4-meter patrol ship built for the Philippine Navy. The vessel, 14.9 meters wide, was completed in March and handed over in October. HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun attended the ceremony alongside lawmakers Kim Tae-sun and Yoon Jong-oh, as well as senior figures from the shipbuilding sector. Of the 5,000 vessels delivered to date, 2,631 were constructed at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, 1,570 at HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and 799 at HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries. The company noted that if all the ships it has built were placed end to end, their combined length would stretch farther than the distance between Seoul and Tokyo. “Delivering 5,000 ships is a testament to South Korea’s shipbuilding prowess and a transformative moment for the global maritime industry,” Chung said. “We aim to build the next 5,000 ships over the coming decades.” * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-19 15:48:20

South Korea's Innospace to develop space data center with UAE firm SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s Innospace, a private rocket developer, is deepening its ties with the Middle East as it seeks new footholds in the global space economy. The company said Wednesday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Madari Space, a United Arab Emirates start-up, to jointly develop and commercialize a space-based data center. The agreement was announced during the Dubai Airshow. Under the partnership, the two companies will explore the creation of an orbital data center, expand launch and satellite operations services, and pursue additional commercial opportunities in both South Korea and the UAE. Madari Space, based in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, is working to develop data infrastructure in low-earth orbit that combines large-scale storage with satellite-enabled high-performance computing. The effort is supported by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, a government-backed financing program. A pilot mission is planned for 2026 in cooperation with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. “Our partnership with Innospace reflects a shared commitment to opening new horizons in protecting and managing critical national data,” Sharif Al Romaithi, Madari’s chief executive, said in a press release. “We look forward to active collaboration with South Korea in related business fields.” Kim Soo-jong, Innospace’s chief executive, called the agreement a strategic step toward creating new technologies and business models. “Our partnership will lay a crucial foundation for global leadership in the emerging space data center sector,” he said. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-19 13:45:47