Big Take Asia Trump Has a Shipbuilding Dream. Can South Korea Make It a Reality?
Aug 26, 2025
Weilun Soon, a Bloomberg reporter specializing in shipbuilding, shares insights on South Korea's bustling shipyards, particularly Hanwha Ocean. He discusses a pivotal $150 billion trade deal aimed at boosting U.S. shipbuilding dreams. The conversation dives into the strategic importance of strengthening U.S.-South Korea maritime ties to counteract China's growing dominance. Soon also explores the competitive dynamics of global shipbuilding, highlighting the historical rise and fall of major powers and the future implications of this partnership.
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Shipyard Scale And Daily Life
- Weilun Soon describes shipyards as factory towns with towering Goliath cranes and workers assembling huge metal blocks like Lego pieces.
- He compares the largest ships to the Empire State Building turned sideways to convey scale and pride in the craft.
Korea Busy As U.S. Doubles Down On Ships
- Korea's shipyards are booked through 2028 and buzzing with activity after a renewed U.S.-Korea trade push.
- The $150 billion pledge focuses nearly half on shipbuilding to boost U.S. maritime capacity and strategic supply chains.
MASCA Frames Strategic Partnership
- The MASCA plan — Make American Shipbuilding Great Again — frames shipbuilding as a shared U.S.-Korea strategic priority.
- Both countries see shipbuilding as a point of alignment to counter China's dominance and bolster national security.