SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun said Monday the company is considering acquiring a shipyard in the United States, signaling a more assertive global expansion strategy under his new leadership.
“We are well-prepared for U.S.-Korea shipbuilding collaboration and are considering acquiring a U.S. shipyard,” Chung told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit’s Future Tech Forum in Gyeongju.
His participation in the forum marked his first public appearance since taking over as chairman on Oct. 17, succeeding HD Hyundai’s professional management system and ushering in a third generation of family leadership.
Chung said the proposed acquisition would align with the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) project, a Korea-U.S. joint initiative aimed at bolstering cooperation in advanced shipbuilding and defense technologies.
Chung also addressed speculation about a possible visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to HD Hyundai’s shipyard in Ulsan this week, saying, “Nothing is decided yet, but it could happen anytime.”
At the keynote address, Chung said, since assuming the chairmanship, he has focused on uniting the group’s workforce and advancing innovation across its business units.
He called for a “global innovation alliance” to leverage artificial intelligence for sustainable shipping, digital manufacturing, and the broader maritime industry.
Highlighting HD Hyundai’s technological capabilities, Chung noted that its subsidiary Avikus became the world’s first company to achieve autonomous navigation across the Pacific Ocean three years ago — a milestone he said is reshaping the future of marine operations.
The company, he added, is addressing skilled labor shortages by developing “smart shipyards” equipped with advanced robotics and plans to introduce humanoid robots in the near future.
The Future Tech Forum, part of the APEC CEO Summit, gathered global business leaders, policymakers, and academics to discuss trends shaping the next generation of industries. HD Hyundai opened the forum, which features sessions on shipbuilding, defense, retail, artificial intelligence, digital assets, and future energy through Oct. 30.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
