A delegation from the U.S. Department of Commerce visited HJ Shipbuilding and Construction’s Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan on 11 November, with discussions covering naval MRO programs and prospective merchant shipbuilding cooperation.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Alex Krutz toured production areas with Dewey Moore, Principal Officer of the U.S. Consulate in Busan, and Commercial Officer Michael Kim. CEO Yoo Sang-cheol and senior leaders introduced the shipyard’s core facilities and ongoing programs.

Krutz, an International Trade Administration official with more than 20 years of experience in aerospace, defense manufacturing, and supply chain, reviewed naval, special-purpose, and commercial production lines. HJ Shipbuilding said the delegation showed strong approval of its shipbuilding capabilities and its preparation for future MRO work.

In a social media post, Krutz wrote that he had visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Heavy Industries, and HJ Shipbuilding during a three-day trip. He added that the United States was discussing “large-scale merchant shipbuilding cooperation” with partners.

Expectations for the MASGA (Make Shipbuilding Great Again) program increased after both governments released a joint fact sheet on 13 November outlining cooperation in areas such as approval for nuclear-powered attack submarine construction, MRO development, workforce training, shipyard modernization, and supply-chain strengthening.

The U.S. government has also signaled interest in expanding its commercial and naval fleets by building American-flagged ships in Korea. Options under consideration include outsourcing ship MRO, acquiring or upgrading U.S. shipyards, co-producing naval vessels, and establishing joint procurement frameworks.

HJ Shipbuilding has been preparing for MASGA participation. The company hosted U.S. Forces Korea Naval Commander Neil Koprowski in April and subsequently formed an MRO Cluster Council to organize related initiatives.