With the Korea-U.S. summit approaching later this month, HD Hyundai is ramping up efforts to support the “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again” (MASGA) initiative, aimed at strengthening shipbuilding ties between the two nations.
On August 13, HD Hyundai reported that top executives — including Vice Chairman Cho Seok and President & CEO Lee Sang-kyun — welcomed South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, acting U.S. Ambassador Joseph Yun, alongside senior members of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee to its Ulsan shipyard. Discussions focused on strategies to advance MASGA’s goals and potential policy measures to facilitate collaboration.
During the briefing, Lee emphasized the company’s advanced shipbuilding expertise and its vision for the global maritime industry. The delegation also toured the commercial shipyard and the naval & special vessel facilities, where they observed the next-generation Aegis destroyer ROKS Dasan Jeong Yak-yong.
Minister Cho expressed optimism, saying the visit reinforced his confidence in the project’s success and pledged to closely monitor its progress. Lee reiterated HD Hyundai’s commitment to making MASGA a “new symbol of the Korea-U.S. alliance” and contributing to the growth of both countries’ shipbuilding sectors.
HD Hyundai has pursued several U.S. partnerships in recent years. In June, it hosted the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Leaders Forum to foster a maritime alliance. The company also launched a trilateral talent development program last year with Seoul National University and the University of Michigan. Additionally, it maintains ties with Edison Chouest Offshore in commercial shipbuilding and Huntington Ingalls Industries in naval ship projects.
Earlier this month, HD Hyundai secured a contract to overhaul the USNS Alan Shepard, a 41,000-ton U.S. Navy dry cargo and ammunition ship — the first tangible Korea-U.S. shipbuilding outcome since MASGA’s launch.
