Ontario Minister Tours Hanwha Ocean Shipyard, Deepening Industrial Ties with South Korea

Inside one of the world’s most advanced shipyards, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade sees firsthand the submarine platform proposed for Canada—and explores new pathways for investment, partnership, and growth.

On the southern coast of South Korea, where massive hull blocks tower over sprawling dry docks and some of the world’s most sophisticated naval vessels take shape, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, the Honourable Victor Fedeli, stepped inside a shipyard that sits at the heart of global naval manufacturing.

On January 22, 2026, Minister Fedeli visited Hanwha Ocean’s shipyard in Geoje—one of the largest and most advanced shipbuilding facilities in the world—touring production halls, assembly lines, and active construction areas that illustrate South Korea’s position as a global leader in naval and commercial shipbuilding.

A central focus of the visit was the KSS-III submarine program. Minister Fedeli observed the active production line for the KSS-III and boarded the submarine launched for the Republic of Korea Navy in October 2025—the same class of submarine Hanwha Ocean is proposing for Canada’s Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).

Seeing the platform in production and in service provided a tangible view of the capability being offered to Canada, while underscoring the scale and maturity of South Korea’s submarine industrial base.

“It was a great pleasure to host Minister Fedeli at our shipyard today and show him the proven, in-service and in-production KSS-III submarine that we feel is the best submarine for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. Equally important was our discussion on the economic benefits we plan to bring to Ontario as part of this project as well as how Ontario and South Korea can enhance their relationship in a number of strategic areas,” expressed Charles Kim, President and CEO, Hanwha Ocean.

Beyond the submarine program itself, the visit centred on the broader economic and industrial opportunities between Ontario and South Korea. In discussions with Minister Fedeli, Hanwha Ocean highlighted its commitment to establishing partnerships with the Government of Ontario and with Ontario-based industry across a wide range of sectors.

These areas include shipbuilding, defence, space, aerospace, sustainable energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and leading-edge technology—industries that align closely with Ontario’s economic development priorities and long-term growth strategy.

Hanwha confirmed it already has memoranda of understanding in place with several Ontario companies, with additional announcements expected in the coming weeks. The company emphasized that these partnerships are intended to generate jobs, stimulate investment, and strengthen supply chains linking Ontario and South Korea.

For Minister Fedeli, the visit offered an opportunity to directly assess South Korea’s industrial capabilities and explore how collaboration with global leaders like Hanwha Ocean could translate into concrete economic benefits at home.

Discussions with Hanwha executives focused on potential investment pathways, partnership models, and mechanisms to support job creation and economic growth across Ontario. The exchange also reflected a shared interest in deepening bilateral cooperation and building durable industrial relationships that extend well beyond a single project.

As Canada advances its plans for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, Hanwha Ocean’s proposal—and its growing engagement with Ontario industry—positions the company as both a defence partner and an economic collaborator.

Minister Fedeli’s visit to Geoje underscored a simple but powerful message: global defence programs and provincial economic development are increasingly interconnected. For Ontario, forging strong relationships with trusted international industrial partners offers a pathway to participate in some of the world’s most advanced maritime programs—while ensuring the benefits are felt at home through jobs, investment, and long-term industrial growth.



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