Kang Hoon-sik Promotes Defense Exports in Canada: "We Aim to Build Them Like Five-Star Hotels"

Kang Hoon-sik Shares SNS Message on the 29th
Delivers President Lee's Personal Letter to Canadian Prime Minister
Defense Procurement Minister to Visit Korea Next Week
"If Successful, It Will Be the Largest-Ever Entry into Western Markets"

Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President, who visited Canada as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, is taking a commemorative photo with Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada. Photo by Kang Hoon-sik, X (formerly Twitter)

On January 29, Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President, introduced South Korea's submarines to senior Canadian officials, stating, "We design and build them with the mindset that my own son and daughter will be on board. That is why we aim to make them as comfortable as a five-star hotel."

Kang made these remarks through his social networking service (SNS) account on the same day. In order to secure a contract for Canada's 60 trillion won submarine project, Kang visited Ottawa as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, meeting with senior officials including Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada.

Kang explained, "A submarine is an isolated space deep in the cold, pitch-black ocean, where you can't even make a phone call to the outside world. It's common for the crew not to surface for dozens of days at a time." He added, "If I think of my own daughter and son being on board, it is only natural that the submarine should provide a space where, even in an emergency, they can rest comfortably and safely without injury, even if only for a short while."

Kang continued, "David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, once suffered a serious head injury on a submarine. However, when he visited the Hanwha shipyard in Geoje last year and toured a submarine under construction, he said he had no concerns about injuries at all." It was also reported that Minister McGuinty said at the time, "I wanted to take the Korean submarine straight to Canada on the spot."

"If successful, it will be the largest-ever entry into Western markets"

Kang also announced that Steven Fuhr, Minister responsible for Defense Procurement in Canada, plans to visit Korea next week to personally board a submarine operated by the Korean Navy. The position of Minister responsible for Defense Procurement was created in response to the growing need to modernize weapons systems amid increasing uncertainty in the international order. Kang also evaluated his discussions with Melanie Joly, Minister of Industry, on the submarine project's industrial cooperation program as "very direct and concrete."

Meanwhile, Kang said, "Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne quickly opened up during our conversation when he mentioned that his child is a big fan of K-pop and a member of ARMY (the BTS fandom). Whenever I meet foreign dignitaries like this, I benefit from the global influence of our culture." He added, "The Finance Minister expressed hope for expanded opportunities for cooperation and emphasized his willingness to provide the necessary financial and administrative support."

In addition, Kang delivered a personal letter from President Lee Jaemyung to Prime Minister Carney and held a breakfast meeting with Mark Andre Blanchard, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.

Kang explained, "Canada is determined to use this submarine acquisition project as a fundamental turning point in its industrial and security policies. All senior officials consistently conveyed that this is not simply about purchasing new weapons." He continued, "This submarine project is also a major leap forward for Korea's defense industry. If successful, it will mark the largest-ever entry into Western markets, and we expect it will serve as a springboard for a full-scale entry into the NATO market as well."