Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and the U.S. Department of Commerce jointly opened the Korea–U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center (KUSPC) in Washington, D.C., on July 23, 2026, with Minister Kim and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in attendance. The opening came just over two months after the ministries signed a May 8 MOU establishing the Korea–U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Initiative (KUSPI), under which they agreed to set up the center.

Opening Ceremony

Approximately 130 people attended the ceremony, including the two commerce ministers, senior government officials, and business leaders from both countries. Korean attendees included officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the Ministry of National Defense (MND), Korea’s ambassador to the United States, and lawmakers from the Korea–U.S. Parliamentary League. U.S. attendees included Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel, Senators Todd Young and Mark Kelly, and officials from the White House, the U.S. Maritime Administration, and the Department of State. Industry participants included Kim Hyung-kwan, CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering; Choi Sung-an, CEO of Samsung Heavy Industries; Jung In-sub, President of Hanwha Ocean; and Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, along with other business leaders from both countries.

In his welcoming remarks, Minister Kim called KUSPC “a unique platform for shipbuilding cooperation and a symbol of Korea’s firm commitment to helping rebuild the U.S. shipbuilding industry” and added, “With government support, KUSPC will bring Korea’s world-class shipbuilding technologies to shipyards on both U.S. coasts and swiftly advance the $150 billion shipbuilding investment.” He also called on the U.S. government to support the investment through a steady stream of orders, incentives, and regulatory relief.

In a congratulatory address read by DAPA Director General for International Cooperation Kim Tae-gon, DAPA Minister Lee Yong-cheol promised to identify new opportunities for Korea–U.S. cooperation on naval vessels and help Korean companies enter U.S. shipbuilding and defense supply chains. DAPA will also work closely with KUSPC to turn the MASGA vision into concrete, sustainable results.

KUSPC Director Lee Jong-geon said the center will connect governments, shipyards, universities, research institutes, and investors; train skilled shipbuilding workers in the United States; advise major U.S. shipyards on productivity; and support joint R&D. He added, “We will turn the $150 billion investment into tangible results and help restore the U.S. shipbuilding industry’s competitiveness.”

15 Korea–U.S. Cooperation MOUs Signed

At the ceremony, Korean and U.S. companies and institutions signed 15 MOUs in the presence of the two ministers. The agreements cover four areas: building Team Korea, supply chain cooperation, workforce development, and joint R&D. The agreements are expected to strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding industry while supporting Korean investment in the U.S.

1. Building “Team Korea” – Six Korean organizations—HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Heavy Industries, the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA), the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), and KUSPC—formed “Team Korea” to combine their strengths, advance both countries’ shipbuilding industries, and help Korean companies enter the U.S. market. The shipbuilders will help modernize U.S. shipyards and build a local supplier network, while KRISO will jointly develop and demonstrate advanced shipbuilding and marine technologies. KUSPC will provide U.S. market intelligence.

2. Supply Chain Cooperation – Korean shipbuilders signed five MOUs with U.S. partners to strengthen supply chains for equipment and materials, design and production, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), while helping their partners build capabilities. 

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and Siemens Industry Software Inc. will jointly develop and commercialize next-generation digital solutions for ship design and production. Hanwha Ocean will work with the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia to encourage local manufacturers to join the shipbuilding supply chain.

Korean marine equipment supplier JJ&Companies will supply equipment and repair technology to Nichols Brothers Boat Builders and Everett Ship Repair, improving their vessel MRO capabilities. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering will assess shipyard productivity at Fraser Industries and introduce automation technology to modernize its operations.

As part of U.S. port modernization, HD Hyundai Samho signed a contract to supply four advanced port cranes to Washington United Terminals, a terminal operator at the Port of Tacoma.

3. Workforce Development – Hanwha Philly Shipyard will support shipbuilding skills training at Delaware County Community College (DCCC) in Pennsylvania and create a workforce pipeline connecting trainees with on-the-job training and employment. Samsung Heavy Industries and Vigor Marine Group will jointly establish an advanced maritime training center equipped with technologies such as VR and AR welding systems. KRISO, KOSHIPA, and KUSPC will work with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to develop internationally recognized programs for technical qualifications, safety training, and certification. They will also collaborate on KUSPC-led hands-on training.

4. Joint R&D – MOTIR will fund a five-year Korea–U.S. collaborative research program in shipbuilding totaling KRW 120 billion, or approximately $80 million. Seven Korean companies and institutions, along with nine U.S. counterparts, signed joint research agreements to combine Korea’s ship production capabilities with foundational U.S. technologies in areas such as advanced AI and robotics. The program will cover eight projects, including ship design optimization, autonomous aluminum welding, automated painting of large ship blocks, and autonomous navigation.

The companies will also pursue joint projects. Samsung Heavy Industries and Saronic Technologies will apply advanced automation technologies at U.S. shipyards and jointly develop unmanned surface vessels (USVs). Samsung Heavy Industries will also work with Conrad Shipyard and ABS on the design and construction of LNG bunkering vessels and related technical certification. Hanwha Ocean and Leidos Gibbs & Cox will co-design the Global Fast Sealift (GFS), while HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and ABSG Consulting will develop, test, and validate an operating platform for next-generation autonomous vessels.

Next Steps

KUSPC will serve as the key U.S. hub for MASGA. With KRW 6.6 billion in Korean government funding for 2026, it will run programs in Washington, D.C., including productivity consulting for U.S. shipyards and workforce training. It will also facilitate R&D, technology exchange, and direct investment projects between Korean and U.S. companies. To create favorable business conditions for Korean companies seeking to enter the U.S. shipbuilding market, KUSPC will work closely with the U.S. government, Congress, and industry, and serve as the focal point for a U.S.-based shipbuilding cooperation network.

MOTIR will maintain close communication with U.S. counterparts through the newly launched KUSPC to identify and discuss mutually beneficial shipbuilding projects. It will also work with the Korea–U.S. Strategic Investment Corporation (KUIC) and policy finance institutions to provide coordinated support for Korean shipbuilders investing in the United States and for Korea–U.S. cooperation on vessel construction.