HD Hyundai Heavy Industries welcomed 30 defense attachés from 25 countries to its Ulsan yard, where the delegation reviewed naval construction and support capabilities.
Foreign workers made up 22.7 percent of South Korea’s shipbuilding workforce in 2024, highlighting labor shortages, policy pressure for domestic hiring, and a growing push toward automation and smart yard investment.
A Vietnamese worker was found dead at an HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard on 18 March, and police are investigating the circumstances of the case.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has agreed to sell the Gunsan shipyard, with the final price to be decided after due diligence and further negotiations among the parties.
Ocean Yield and NYK have made effective an eight-ship 200,000 cbm LNG carrier programme at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, valued at about $2.08 billion, with delivery expected by 2029.
DAPA plans a March 2026 tender for KDDX as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean prepare detailed design bids.
Three Jeongjo the Great-class Aegis destroyers gathered at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard—Jeongjo Daewang, Dasan Jeong Yakyong and Daeho Kim Jongseo—highlighting build milestones and capabilities.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has completed its first U.S. Navy MRO project on USNS Alan Shepard and will begin work on Cesar Chavez from the 19th this month, strengthening its role in Navy ship maintenance.
South Korea will run a designated KDDX contest between Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for detailed design, targeting contract award by end-2026 and first delivery by 2030.
