Alex Wong, president and global chief strategy officer at Hanwha Group, said the United States and South Korea have an opportunity to evolve their alliance from the traditional national security and military-focused partnership to one that is built on shared technologies and supports industrial resilience.
Wong, previously served in the White House as principal deputy national security adviser, discussed the opportunity for Washington and Seoul to expand their partnership at the 41st Sejong National Strategy Forum organized by the Korean foreign policy and security think tank Sejong Institute on Thursday. According to Hanwha, Wong spoke during the Trump 2.0 and New Global Order session alongside representatives from Japan, Germany and South Korea.
How Can the US & South Korea Deepen Ties?
The Hanwha executive noted that Western nations already see the need to increase production capacity across sectors, including in defense and shipbuilding. He stated that South Korea, with its advanced manufacturing and heavy industrial capabilities, positions the nation to elevate and diversify its partnership with the U.S.
He said Seoul and Washington should deepen defense industrial cooperation and establish a long-term economic partnership.
Hanwha has already made investments to bolster U.S. shipbuilding and defense systems manufacturing. The South Korean company purchased the Philly Shipyard for $100 million in 2024. In March, Hanwha Philly Shipyard secured its first U.S. Navy project to help build the next-generation logistics ship as a subcontractor to Vard Marine US.
Hanwha Defense USA, a subsidiary of Hanwha Group, also recently partnered with American collaborative autonomy firm HavocAI to develop a 200-foot autonomous surface vessel to support Department of War missions.
What Does South Korea’s Potential Defense Industrial Cooperation Cover?
Wong’s remarks come months after South Korea’s defense industry dialogue with NATO on defense supply chain security, procurement, and production.
Tarja Jaakkola, assistant secretary general for defense industry, innovation and armaments at NATO, said the alliance aims to expand defense industrial capacity.
“While continuing to modernize NATO’s deterrence and defense, and expanding our defense industrial capacity, we aim to enhance our partnership with the Republic of Korea, one of our valued Indo-Pacific partners,” the official stated. “We seek to strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships in the areas of defense industrial cooperation and capabilities.”
The dialogue is part of NATO’s effort to strengthen cooperation with allies in the Indo-Pacific.
