South Korea pushes for Canadian submarine contract, expands defense and space ties

South Korean presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon‑sik travelled to Canada as President Lee Jae‑Myung’s special envoy for strategic economic cooperation. In Toronto he joined a business roundtable hosted by the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and KOTRA, meeting Canadian officials and about 50 business leaders. The delegation signed three memorandums of understanding covering space and defence cooperation, and Hyundai Motor presented a hydrogen‑partnership vision for the two countries.

Korea’s Hanwha Ocean‑HD Hyundai Heavy Industries consortium is competing with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, a deal valued at roughly 60 trillion won (US$ 39.7 billion). Canada is expected to announce a preferred bidder in late June. The Korean side is also promoting broader economic collaboration in energy, critical minerals and supply‑chain security, framing the submarine bid as part of a long‑term partnership. Recent military diplomacy includes Korean naval officers attending Canada’s Cansec 2026 exhibition and a South Korean submarine’s Pacific crossing to demonstrate blue‑water capabilities.