South Korean envoy pushes for $45 bn submarine contract in Canada

President’s chief of staff Kang Hoonsik departed for Canada as a strategic‑economic cooperation special envoy, leading a delegation that includes industry, energy, resource and high‑tech firms. He is seeking to win a 60‑trillion‑won (about $45 billion) contract for 12 new diesel‑electric submarines to replace Canada’s aging fleet, a project in which South Korea is competing with Germany.

In Ottawa, Kang met with Canadian defence procurement minister Steven Pierre and defence minister David McGuinty, emphasizing the speed, quality and on‑time delivery record of Korean submarines. He highlighted Korea’s capacity to support Canada’s security and the broader Indo‑Pacific strategic interests, and joked that the next meeting should be aboard a Korean submarine.

The visit aims to deepen Korea‑Canada cooperation in defence, energy, resources and supply‑chain sectors, and to secure the lucrative submarine order for Korean shipbuilders.