HANJIN HEAVY INDUSTRIES

- HJSC showcases its shipyard as “the birthplace of Korea’s shipbuilding industry,” delegation expresses strong admiration for its naval and commercial shipbuilding expertise

- Alex Krutz, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce (left), and Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJSC (right), during the visit to HJSC

A delegation from the U.S. Department of Commerce visited HJ Shipbuilding & Construction’s (HJSC) Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan, where discussions reportedly extended beyond the U.S. government’s ongoing naval MRO initiatives to potential cooperation in commercial vessel construction.

On November 11, Alex Krutz, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, visited HJSC’s Yeongdo Shipyard together with Dewey Moore, Principal Officer of the U.S. Consulate in Busan, and Commercial Officer Michael Kim. HJSC CEO Yoo Sang-cheol and senior executives welcomed the delegation.

DAS Krutz, who serves in the International Trade Administration (ITA) as a manufacturing lead, is a seasoned expert with more than 20 years of experience in aerospace and defense manufacturing and supply chain consulting. After touring HJSC’s docks and production facilities, the delegation expressed strong satisfaction with the company’s naval, special-purpose, and commercial shipbuilding capabilities, as well as its preparations for entering the MRO business.

Krutz later wrote on his personal social media, “Over the past three days, we visited Korea’s remarkable shipyards and facilities—HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Heavy Industries, and HJSC—and discussed large-scale commercial shipbuilding cooperation with partners and allies.”

As Korea–U.S. cooperation in the shipbuilding sector continues to deepen, the fact that senior officials from the very department leading the U.S. Administration’s initiatives are consecutively visiting major Korean shipyards is reinforcing expectations that the MASGA (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again) project is moving toward realization.

Indeed, the Joint Fact Sheet released by the two governments on November 13 includes concrete plans for cooperation through a bilateral shipbuilding working group, covering naval MRO programs, workforce development, shipyard modernization, and stronger supply chain partnerships—alongside the U.S. approval for constructing nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Beyond this, the U.S. government has expressed an ambition to rapidly expand its commercial and naval fleet by enabling American vessels to be constructed in Korea. Options under consideration reportedly include outsourcing naval MRO to Korea, acquiring or upgrading U.S. shipyards, jointly producing naval vessels, and co-building ships for future procurement.

HJSC is also moving swiftly to secure opportunities arising from the Korea–U.S. MASGA initiative, particularly in the MRO sector and broader market expansion. Following a visit by Rear Admiral Neil Koprowski, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, in April, the global shipbuilder formed an “MRO Cluster Council” in July with ten regional shipbuilding specialist firms. In September, a NAVSEA inspection team dispatched ahead of signing a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) conducted a detailed on-site assessment of the Yeongdo Shipyard.

An HJSC official stated, “Key U.S. government representatives—including Navy officials, inspection teams, and Commerce Department staff—have been visiting our shipyard to review our facilities, construction capabilities, and technological expertise.” He added, “With our eco-friendly commercial ship lineup, unrivaled naval vessel technology, and entry into the MRO business, HJSC will play a meaningful role in advancing the MASGA initiative, a core maritime cooperation agenda between the Republic of Korea and the United States.”