Hanwha Group advances shipbuilding and leadership succession in South Korea

Hanwha Ocean held the keel‑laying ceremony for the sixth FFX Batch III frigate (hull number H.7063) at its Geoje shipyard, marking the final ship in a six‑vessel program for the Republic of Korea Navy. The 3,600‑ton, 129‑metre vessel is slated for launch in February 2027 and will feature advanced sensor masts, a Rolls‑Royce MT30 gas turbine, and South Korean‑developed weapons such as the K‑SAAM and Korean VLS.

Meanwhile, Hanwha Group is finalising a generational leadership transition. Chairman Kim Seung‑youn has clarified the roles of his three sons: eldest son Kim Dong‑kwan was promoted to executive vice chairman, becoming the de‑facto leader of the group's core industrial pillars; second son Kim Dong‑won moved from president of Hanwha Life Insurance to vice chairman, overseeing the financial arm; the third son will take on additional responsibilities within the group. The restructuring includes splitting Hanwha Corp into a defence‑focused surviving entity (≈76 % of assets) and a new Hanwha Machinery & Service Holdings (≈24 % of assets), both slated to relist on 25 August.