At the World’s Largest Shipyard, U.S. Courts an Ally to Face Up to China
Just a few months ago, U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro admired a new South Korean warship built in this port city at the world’s largest shipyard. Del Toro was on a trip hoping to sell top officials at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and others on a simple pitch.
“Invest in America,” Del Toro told them.
Having fallen far behind China in shipbuilding, the U.S. is turning to allies in South Korea and Japan for the turnaround strategy. Key to that effort is attracting companies such as Hyundai that go head-to-head with the Chinese and can do everything America lacks: making ships quickly at low costs with modern techniques.
Excerpts from the story by Timothy Martin with contributions from Chieko Tsuneoka and Soobin Kim. Video by Diana Chan and Derek Cai.
Commissioned and published by The Wall Street Journal.
September 2024
Photographed in Ulsan, South Korea
Jeongjo the Great, a South Korean Aegis destroyer made in Ulsan, contains U.S. parts and technology.
A Goliath crane towers over the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan.
Workers often use scooters to get around the massive shipyard.
Construction of a commercial ship at the Ulsan yard.
Workers in the graving dock work on the construction of another Jeongjo the Great, an Aegis destroyer warship, in Hyundai's shipyard.
Workers in the graving dock work on the construction of another Jeongjo the Great, an Aegis destroyer warship, in Hyundai's shipyard.
A worker walks past a row of scooters parked in Hyundai's shipyard. The shipyard is the world’s largest, and many workers use their own personal scooters to move around the area.
Jeong Woo-maan heads planning for the naval business unit at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard against a backdrop of buildings.
Construction of a commercial ship at the Ulsan yard.
Workers go about their day during the construction of a commercial ship at the Ulsan yard.
Construction of a commercial ship at the Ulsan yard.
HD Hyundai Integrated Digital Control Center room is where commercial ships are monitored live.
Workers walk past a Hyundai department store next to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan.
Hyundai employees head home on a bus after work.
Ilsan Beach lies a short distance along the coast from the shipyard.
Stand-up paddleboarders and beachgoers at Ilsan Beach in Ulsan.
Ulsan is known as the ‘Kingdom of Hyundai.’