Princess Anne visits South Korean shipyard, highlighting UK defense ties

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, continued a long-standing tradition of British royalty visiting South Korea by touring the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan on Tuesday. Her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks accompanied her.

This visit follows similar stops by Prince Charles in 1992 and Prince Andrew in 2008. Princess Anne's itinerary also included a visit to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan to pay respects to British service members who died in the Korean War. At the shipyard, she was briefed on HD Hyundai's partnerships with British defense companies Rolls-Royce and Beaufort, which supply crucial components for naval vessels and submarines.

While the UK was once a global leader in shipbuilding, it has since seen its technological edge and competitiveness surpassed by Japan, South Korea, and China. The UK's current shipbuilding industry largely focuses on naval and specialized vessels, with efforts underway to revitalize its capacity through the National Shipbuilding Strategy. HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun expressed the company's commitment to supporting the UK's maritime sector, drawing on its own shipbuilding expertise.

The historical ties between the Hyundai Group and British shipbuilding run deep. In 1979, Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung secured a significant loan from a British shipmaker to establish the shipyard, famously using a Korean banknote depicting a turtle ship to illustrate Korea's own historical shipbuilding prowess.

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The UK is more than some country we have worked with; it is a special partner that has been part of HD Hyundai’s journey from the beginning. Drawing on our world-class shipbuilding expertise, we will support the continued development of the UK’s shipbuilding and maritime industries.