HD Hyundai is taking the lead in fostering collaboration between the shipbuilding and maritime industries of South Korea and the United States. On June 24, the company hosted the Korea-U.S. Leaders Forum on Education and Research in Shipbuilding at its Global R&D Center in Pangyo, Korea.
This forum was organized as a follow-up to a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in July 2022 among HD Hyundai, Seoul National University (SNU), and the University of Michigan (UM) aimed at promoting talent development in the shipbuilding sector. Recognizing the U.S. government’s efforts to revitalize its shipbuilding industry, HD Hyundai has expressed its support for bolstering this sector and enhancing national security. In conjunction with SNU and UM, the company launched a joint initiative to nurture future talent in the field.
The forum, co-hosted by HD Hyundai and SNU and supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, marked a significant moment for public-private cooperation, attracting substantial attention from industry stakeholders. Notable attendees included Andrew Gately, the Commercial Minister-Counselor of the U.S. Embassy, Lee Seung-ryeol, the Industrial Policy Deputy Minister at MOTIE, and Chung Kisun, Executive Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai. The panel featured experts from both nations, with over 40 participants, including professors from prestigious institutions like UM and MIT.
Chung emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating that this partnership signifies the start of a true maritime alliance that goes beyond talent exchange to the sharing of technologies and visions. The forum also included keynote speeches, with Professor David Singer expressing admiration for Korea’s shipbuilding prowess and stressing the need for talent investment in the U.S. industry. The event transitioned to SNU, where participants shared their curricula on shipbuilding and maritime engineering.
Future discussions will focus on joint research, particularly on “Smart Yard” technologies aimed at transforming shipbuilding through digital innovation. Prior to the forum, U.S. delegates visited HD Hyundai’s headquarters, gaining insights into the company’s smart shipyard initiatives. The next Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Leaders Forum is scheduled for October in the U.S.