Troubled and Controversial 340 Billion Won Daegu-class Ship, Broken for Over 500 Days

2800-ton Daegu-class Destroyer with Stealth Features and Hybrid Propulsion System
Only US Manufacturer Can Repair Due to Intellectual Property Issues
Navy: "Will Purchase New Parts for Replacement"... Sea Trials Scheduled to Begin
Navy to Acquire Additional 'Gyeongnamham' in December This Year

On the 7th, MBC reported that the Navy's next-generation frigate 'Daegu' introduced two years ago is broken and unable to be repaired, remaining docked at Jinhae Port. Photo by MBC Newsdesk broadcast screen capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] It has been confirmed that the next-generation main warship 'Daegu,' which the Navy introduced in August 2018 at a cost of 340 billion won, has been out of order and stationary for over 500 days.

On the 7th, MBC reported that the next-generation frigate 'Daegu,' introduced by the Navy two years ago, is docked at Jinhae Port due to a malfunction.

According to MBC, the Daegu is a 2,800-ton class ship, with a unit price reaching 340 billion won. It is a frigate that attracted attention for its stealth capabilities enhancing defense and its hybrid propulsion system that significantly reduces underwater noise, expected to contribute to anti-submarine operations.

However, although about 650 days have passed since the Daegu was introduced, it has been used in actual operations for only about 100 days.

The Daegu broke down five months after being commissioned and remained inactive for 238 days. The Navy stated that "operator error" was the cause, but the problem has not been resolved.

The Daegu repeatedly stopped suddenly during several operations and eventually remained docked at Jinhae Port without repair, passing another 300 days.

In particular, the Daegu, which was noted for its hybrid propulsion system that reduces noise exposure to the enemy, has continuously encountered problems during operation, making it ultimately unusable for anti-submarine missions.

A bigger issue is that the intellectual property rights for the parts belong to an American company, so neither our military nor the domestic company that built the Daegu can open and inspect the parts, making repairs impossible.

Only the American manufacturer can perform repairs, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, repairs are currently difficult.

As repairs are delayed, the Navy explained that "new parts worth 300 million won were additionally purchased from the U.S. and replaced," and that the Daegu is scheduled to resume test operations starting this week.

Without resolving the Daegu's malfunction, the Navy plans to additionally introduce the Gyeongnam, which has the same propulsion system as the Daegu, in December this year.