Seoul: U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has expressed a strong interest in expanding cooperation with South Korean shipbuilders, focusing on naval ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). Phelan encouraged Korean shipyards to bid on further American naval ship overhaul opportunities, aligning with the United States' broader initiative to revitalize its maritime industrial base.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Phelan's remarks followed his first official visit to South Korea, during which he conducted an exclusive written interview with the agency. He emphasized the existing collaboration between the U.S. and South Korean shipyards, citing the ongoing MRO work on the USNS Yukon at Hanwha Ocean. Phelan highlighted his anticipation for continued collaboration and urged South Korean shipyards to seize future MRO opportunities with the U.S. Navy.
Phelan's visit marked the first by a high-ranking U.S. official under the second Donald Trump administration to South Korea. His comments came after meetings with Han Duck-soo, South Korea's acting president at the time, and tours of facilities at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. in Ulsan and Hanwha Ocean Co. in Geoje. The visit was part of a two-nation Asia tour that also included Japan.
During discussions with acting President Han, Phelan identified shipbuilding as a "top priority" of his visit and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. Han outlined potential areas for deepening bilateral defense cooperation, including naval shipbuilding and advanced technologies.
Since his reelection in November, President Trump has underscored the need for revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry and collaborating with allies like South Korea, a global leader in naval vessel construction. Phelan noted the ongoing MRO work on U.S. Navy ships in South Korea and the investments made by South Korean shipyards in American facilities.
Phelan expressed his admiration for South Korea's shipbuilding capabilities, referencing his visits to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean shipyards as reinforcing this view. He plans to share these impressions with President Trump.
At HD Hyundai Heavy in Ulsan, Phelan met with Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun, who emphasized the company's expertise in naval shipbuilding and the strategic importance of U.S.-South Korea cooperation for maritime security. Phelan also inspected the Jeongjo the Great, an 8,200-ton guided missile destroyer for the South Korean Navy.
At Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard, Phelan received a briefing from Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan on the company's U.S. Navy-related projects, including MRO work on the 31,000-ton replenishment oiler USNS Yukon. Kim highlighted Hanwha Ocean's 2024 acquisition of Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia as a commitment to investing in the U.S. shipbuilding base.
Phelan emphasized the need to enhance shipbuilding capacity, both in terms of new construction and maintenance, to maintain America's maritime dominance. He expressed hope that South Korean shipyards will play a crucial role in this effort through foreign direct investment and the exchange of best practices.
The secretary also pointed to the broader strategic imperative of deeper cooperation with South Korea to address challenges from China's maritime expansion and North Korea's naval capabilities. He reaffirmed the importance of allied naval cooperation to ensure readiness in responding to threats and safeguarding global shipping lanes.
Phelan concluded by highlighting potential areas for industrial and technological collaboration between the U.S. and South Korea, emphasizing ongoing discussions to strengthen ties. His visit to Japan prior to South Korea included a tour of a local shipyard and discussions with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on bilateral naval cooperation.
During his Senate confirmation hearing earlier this year, Phelan cited Hanwha Ocean's acquisition of Philly Shipyard as a significant opportunity to attract South Korean capital and technology to the United States.