Completing Eco-Friendly Ships and Sailing into the Sea
at the Global Center of Shipbuilding
Global children's job experience theme park Kidzania (CEO Kang Jaehyung) and HD Hyundai (CEO Kwon Ohgap) have opened the 'Smart Marine Center' at Kidzania Busan, providing children in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam region with the opportunity to directly experience the vision of eco-friendly future ships.
Busan and Ulsan are key hubs of the global shipbuilding and marine industry. In particular, HD Hyundai, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Mipo located in Dong-gu, Ulsan, possesses the world's leading shipbuilding technology.
Busan is home to a variety of port facilities, infrastructure connected to the sea, and a diverse range of industries. By leveraging these geographical advantages, the newly opened experience center in Busan aims to help local children become more familiar with the shipbuilding and marine industries and support their growth as future marine professionals.
In particular, the 'Smart Marine Center' focuses on HD Hyundai's future-oriented eco-friendly ship technologies. Due to recent environmental regulations and growing interest in sustainability, the eco-friendly shipbuilding industry is emerging as a promising sector for the future. As a result, the demand for skilled workers is increasing, and it is expected to become a major source of future jobs in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam region.
At the Kidzania Busan 'Smart Marine Center,' children transform into eco-friendly ship engineers. First, in the 'Shipbuilding Zone,' they search for unassembled parts inside a ship and complete assigned missions. Next, they install a hydrogen fuel cell system, a core technology leading the decarbonization era, to complete the ship.
Through mapping animation, children can enjoy the experience like a game and learn about eco-friendly ship technologies in a fun way by cooperating with other participants to complete the vessel. Afterward, they hold a naming ceremony for the ship and move to the 'Navigation Experience Zone,' where they sail through a virtual sea created by three-sided LEDs, immersively experiencing both eco-friendly future ship technologies and the vision for the future as envisioned by HD Hyundai.
A Kidzania representative stated, "Since Busan and Ulsan are at the center of the shipbuilding and marine industries, nurturing local talent to lead the industry's future is crucial. We hope that through the Smart Marine Center, children will develop an interest in the shipbuilding and marine industries and further dream of leading the future as a global maritime powerhouse."
An HD Hyundai representative said, "This collaboration is a great opportunity for children to enjoyably experience the values and future technologies pursued by HD Hyundai. We hope this will inspire children to dream of a better future."
On April 29, the opening ceremony for the 'Smart Marine Center' was held at Kidzania Busan, attended by Kidzania Korea CEO Kang Jaehyung, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Vice President Geum Seokho, and executives from both companies. CEO Kang Jaehyung presented the 'Key to the City,' an honor given only to Kidzania partners, to Vice President Geum Seokho, and celebrated the opening of the 'Smart Marine Center' with a ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside members of the Kidzania Children's Council.
Kidzania Busan and HD Hyundai are opening the 'Smart Marine Center' with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Vice President Geum Seokho (second from the left in the top row), Kidzania Korea CEO Kang Jaehyung (second from the right in the top row), and other officials in attendance. Provided by Kidzania Busan
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