Secretary of the Navy John Phelan Visits HD Hyundai to Inspect Aegis Destroyer Construction

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Visits HD Hyundai Heavy Industries

On April 30, 2025, Secretary of the U.S. Navy John Phelan embarked on an official visit to South Korea, where he attended a detailed tour of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, a leading giant in global shipbuilding. Upon his arrival at the Ulsan headquarters, Phelan was warmly welcomed by Chung Kisun, the Executive Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai. Their discussions centered around potential collaboration opportunities aimed at enhancing the shipbuilding industry in both South Korea and the United States.

The visit included a high-profile tour of the company’s facilities dedicated to creating naval vessels, particularly notable for housing the advanced Aegis destroyers. Secretary Phelan boarded the impressive 'Jeongjo the Great', a vessel delivered to the Republic of Korea Navy just last November. The ship’s captain showcased its superior operational capabilities, which set the standard for modern naval warfare technologies.

Following this insightful experience, Phelan inspected the construction site of the second Aegis destroyer, 'Dasan Jeong Yak-yong', which is poised for launch later this year. Reflecting on the visit, he expressed confidence in the potential of advanced shipyards like HD Hyundai for maintaining and repairing naval assets, ensuring they are always ready for operational duties.

Chung emphasized the strong bonds between the U.S. and South Korea, referencing a shared historical alliance that extends beyond mere diplomacy. He remarked on HD Hyundai’s commitment to leverage cutting-edge technologies and robust shipbuilding capabilities to rejuvenate the maritime sector. This commitment is vital, especially as the current U.S. administration under President Trump seeks to revitalize its domestic shipbuilding capabilities.

This visit is timely coming on the heels of a recent executive order from the Trump administration, which calls for rebuilding the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Furthermore, earlier in April, HD Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding with Huntington Ingalls, noted to be the largest defense shipyard in the U.S. This agreement is expected to foster enhancements in shipbuilding productivity and facilitate the sharing of advanced maritime technologies.

In an assertive move to further U.S.-South Korea military cooperation, executives from HD Hyundai's Naval Special Ship business also made a trip to Huntington Ingalls on April 22, seeking deeper partnerships and insights into best practices in ship construction. As both nations are steeped in historical camaraderie, the ongoing agreements and discussions signify a strategic alignment that could reshape the future of naval defense capabilities not just in the Asia-Pacific region, but worldwide.

The tour and strategic discussions at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries represent a pivotal moment for fostering military-industrial partnerships between two allied nations looking to strengthen their defense postures in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.