Princess Anne visits HD Hyundai Heavy's Ulsan headquarters; Chung Ki-sun pledges support for UK shipbuilding

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said Tuesday that Princess Anne of the British royal family, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks visited the company's headquarters in Ulsan.

HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Vice Chairman Lee Sang-gyun and President Ju Won-ho received the princess and her party, briefing them directly on the company's shipbuilding technology and competitiveness.

"The United Kingdom is not simply a partner country — it is a special partner that was with HD Hyundai from the very beginning," Chung said. "We will contribute to the development of the UK's shipbuilding and maritime industry, drawing on our best technology and ship construction capabilities."

The visit came amid the British government's push to develop its shipbuilding and maritime industry. Princess Anne toured HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipbuilding and special-vessel construction facilities and its engine factory, and received briefings on the company's cooperation with British defense firms Rolls-Royce and Survitec.

Rolls-Royce has worked with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries since a 2012 project to build frigates for the South Korean Navy. Under the partnership, Rolls-Royce supplies the MT30 gas turbine — a core propulsion component — while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries integrates it into a complete propulsion package. The solution is being applied to next-generation frigates for the Republic of Korea Navy.

Survitec supplies survival equipment for warship crews and has partnered with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries since 2013, when the relationship began with the delivery of life-saving equipment for submarines.

HD Hyundai has maintained ties with the British royal family across generations. The late founder Chung Ju-yung received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1977 for his contributions to promoting trade between the two countries. In 1983, he met Princess Anne in London while conducting promotional activities to win the bid to host the Seoul Olympics.