Hanwha Philly Shipyard has appointed Hyuk Kim as its new president, effective 2 November 2026, as the U.S. shipbuilder expands into naval vessel construction and works to increase production capacity.

Kim succeeds David Kim, who helped manage the shipyard following Hanwha Group’s acquisition in 2024. During his tenure, the company nearly doubled its workforce and invested in upgrading its facilities.

The new president brings more than 25 years of experience in commercial and naval shipbuilding, having held senior positions at Hanwha Ocean and its predecessor, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. He also previously led the Smart Vessel Business Center at Hanwha Systems.

Kim’s appointment comes as Hanwha Defense USA, a subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, takes majority ownership of the Philadelphia shipyard to bring commercial and defense shipbuilding operations under a unified management structure.

He will report directly to Tom Anderson, president of U.S. shipbuilding at Hanwha Defense USA.

A central part of Kim’s role will be applying large-scale shipbuilding experience from Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje facility in South Korea, which produces between 35 and 45 commercial and naval vessels annually, according to Anderson. The transfer of production expertise is intended to support improvements in efficiency and capacity at the Philadelphia yard.

The leadership change follows two U.S. defense-related shipbuilding awards. In July, Hanwha Philly Shipyard and TOTE Services were selected for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Missile Range Instrumentation Vessel (MRIV) programme, the yard’s first new-construction award under Hanwha ownership.

More recently, Hanwha Defense USA was selected by TOTE Services to build one Medium Landing Ship (LSM) for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps under a $269 million contract, with options for three additional vessels. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027.

The appointment also coincides with the introduction of digital production systems and welding automation from Geoje at the Philadelphia facility.

According to the shipyard’s official announcement, Kim plans to focus on improving operations, expanding construction capacity and developing the workforce needed for both commercial and naval shipbuilding.