South Korea and Canada Discuss Expanding Space and Defense Partnership

June 2, 2026

Seoul, June 2: South Korea and Canada have engaged in discussions to broaden their partnership in advanced industries such as space and defense. This information was released by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy on Tuesday. The initiative comes as Seoul makes its final efforts to secure a submarine project from Canada.

On Monday, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, along with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), hosted a business roundtable in Toronto aimed at enhancing collaboration between Korean and Canadian companies.

According to the ministry, the event featured Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President, who is currently in Canada as a representative for special economic cooperation. He was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Industry Moon Shin-hak, Minister Lee Yong-cheol from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and about 50 business leaders from both countries.

This visit by high-ranking Korean officials is seen as a strong indication that Seoul is striving to win the significant submarine procurement project from Ottawa.

According to a report by the Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries are competing against Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for this deal, valued at approximately 60 trillion won (around 39.7 billion USD). Canada is expected to select its preferred bidder by the end of June.

During the business roundtable, Hanwha outlined ways to enhance cooperation in the space and defense sectors between South Korea and Canada, while Hyundai Motor Company presented its vision for hydrogen partnership between the two nations.

Korean and Canadian companies also signed three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) during the event to foster collaboration in the space and defense fields.

Kang stated, “If Canada’s natural resources and advanced technological capabilities are combined with South Korea’s strong manufacturing capacity, both countries can advance together in the global market for advanced industries.”