Jeong Gi-seon Visits CES for 2nd Consecutive Year: "Ocean Potential Worth $24 Trillion"

Press Conference Held in Las Vegas, USA
'Ocean Transformation' Core Vision for Major Sea Change

Jeong Gi-seon, CEO of HD Hyundai, is delivering the keynote speech at the HD Hyundai Group press conference held in Las Vegas, USA, on the 4th (local time), one day before the opening of CES 2023. Photo by HD Hyundai

[Las Vegas, USA = Reporter Choi Seoyoon] Jung Ki-sun, CEO of HD Hyundai, announced at a press conference held in Las Vegas, USA, a day before the world’s largest electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition ‘CES 2023’ on the 4th (local time), that the group’s vision is ‘Ocean Transformation,’ aiming to fundamentally change the way humanity interacts with the sea based on digital and engineering innovation technologies. This year marks his second consecutive year delivering the keynote speech at the conference.

Wearing a deep blue knit and light gray cotton pants, CEO Jung appeared on stage and emphasized that the answer to sustainable growth lies in the sea. He said, “The place we know best and can excel at is the sea,” adding, “We will realize a sustainable future for humanity by harnessing the infinite potential the sea holds.” HD Hyundai, with its 51-year history, declared its commitment to realizing a sustainable future through a fundamental paradigm shift in perspectives and utilization methods regarding the sea. He explained ‘Ocean Transformation’ as “a new approach to the sea, which covers more than two-thirds of the Earth, reinventing the way we engage with and utilize the sea to discover vast potential.”

CEO Jung estimated the potential value of the sea to be in the tens of trillions of dollars. He stated, “To overcome crises and achieve sustainable growth for humanity, it is necessary to explore new frontiers,” and added, “As a future builder, HD Hyundai views the unknown domain ‘the sea,’ which accounts for 70% of the Earth, as a new blue frontier for our generation.” He further noted, “With maritime logistics expected to triple by 2050, the importance of the sea, which handles about 90% of global cargo volume, is increasing. Considering all the untapped potential resources of the sea, its value will far exceed 24 trillion dollars.”

CEO Jung also presented the core goals of Ocean Transformation: ‘Ocean Mobility,’ which safely transports renewable energy using sustainable future ships; ‘Ocean Wise,’ which hyper-connects smart ships through marine data and AI analysis; ‘Ocean Life,’ which offers new leisure experiences using autonomous navigation technology; and ‘Ocean Energy,’ which utilizes the sea as a new space for sustainable energy.

Kim Sung-joon, Director of Future Technology Research at Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, who presented on Ocean Mobility, introduced the future vision of next-generation eco-friendly and digital ships as the answer to the sea’s sustainability. Following this, experts from various fields, including Shim Ji-ae and Manager Baek Bong-seok of Hyundai Global Service, introduced HD Hyundai’s marine data solutions utilizing AI and big data technologies, while Carl Johansson, Director of Avikus, presented a blueprint for a safer and freer sea enabled by autonomous ship navigation technology.

Notably, executives from HD Hyundai’s key partner companies also appeared as speakers at the event, including Sham Shaka, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the American big data company Palantir, and Jan Kjersgaard, CEO of GE Offshore Wind, pledging to help turn the potential of the sea into reality. Palantir, which formed a strategic alliance with HD Hyundai last year for big data business, is a world-leading big data platform company with global clients such as the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Airbus. An HD Hyundai official said, “Following last year, we plan to showcase our vision and technological capabilities on the global stage again this year,” adding, “Through CES 2023, we will actively seek new business opportunities to collaborate with global leading companies in various fields.”

At this CES, HD Hyundai plans to showcase eco-friendly low-carbon fuel propulsion technologies using large-scale model ships. HD Hyundai has prepared an exhibition space of 595㎡ (180 pyeong) this year.