Princess Anne Visits Ulsan Shipyard…British Royal Family’s HD Contemporary Half-Century Relationship

The late HD Hyundai founder Chung Ju-young, who visited Britain to host the 1983 Seoul Olympics, met Princess Anne, who was a member of the British Olympic Committee at the time. Forty-three years later, in 2026, Princess Anne visited Ulsan HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to meet with HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun. This is the moment when the history of Korea-U.K. cooperation, which began in 1970 during the construction of the Ulsan shipyard, continued for more than half a century.

Princess Anne of the British royal family visited the Ulsan headquarters of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries on the 14th with her husband Sir Timothy Lawrence and British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crookes. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries was the only company to visit during this visit. HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Vice Chairman Lee Sang-kyun, and President Joo Won-ho introduced world-class shipbuilding technology and cooperation in the Korean-British shipbuilding and maritime industries to Princess Anne’s party. Chairman Chung directly answered questions from Princess Anne and her wife during the entire schedule.

The first schedule was the shipbuilding site. Princess Anne received a briefing on the ‘Daeho Kim Jongseo Ship’ and listened to the main specifications, construction period, and core performance of the ship. In the process of listening to the explanation of the Philippine One Guard Ship (OPV), which is currently under construction, he also showed high interest by asking questions directly to Chairman Chung. Not only did he listen to the explanation, but he continued the conversation naturally by asking questions from time to time.

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The engine plant then looked at HD Hyundai’s engine business growth process and cooperation with Rolls-Royce in the UK. HD Hyundai introduced cooperation cases using Rolls-Royce’s MT30 gas turbine along with the engine business development process, including the development of 10,000 horsepower engines in 2013. After hearing that MT30 is an engine that symbolizes British technology, Princess Anne looked closely at the status board and repeatedly asked questions about it.

Princess Anne moved to the observation deck of the guesthouse and toured the world’s largest shipyard, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and major production facilities. I heard the explanation by pointing to the Timmersey Lawrence hardness yard, and while traveling by bus, I looked at the LNG carrier under construction and said, “Great shipyard.” He also expressed interest in the fact that shipbuilding methods have been greatly developed and advanced compared to the past.

The place where I stayed the longest on this visit was the founder’s memorial space. Princess Anne was interested in explaining the construction process of the Ulsan shipyard and the background of the start of cooperation between Korean and British companies, and was surprised by the explanation that cooperation between British companies became the starting point of HD Hyundai. In particular, he stopped and recalled the time in front of a photo he met with founder Chung Ju-yung during his bid for the 1983 Seoul Olympics.

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HD Hyundai’s relationship with England dates back to the construction stage of the shipyard. In 1970, Chung Ju-yung, the founder of the company, traveled around the world to attract loans to raise funds for the construction of the Ulsan shipyard. At the time, he met Charles Longbatom, chairman of A&P Apple Door, a British shipbuilding technology company, and pointed to the turtle ship drawn on the 500 won bill, explaining, “Korea is a country that has already made ironclad ships in the 16th century, 300 years before Britain.” Impressed by this, Longbatom wrote a recommendation letter to Bucklei Bank. HD Hyundai explained that this led to the introduction of loans necessary for the construction of the Ulsan shipyard.

Britain’s support did not stop at the construction of a shipyard. The two governments signed an agreement to establish Ulsan Institute of Technology (now Ulsan University) in 1971, and the British government supported the dispatch of experts, curriculum development, and experimental equipment. Ulsan Institute of Technology introduced the first British-style Industry-Academic Cooperation Education (Sandwich Course) in Korea, laying the foundation for fostering industrial talent.

The relationship between the British royal family and the modern family also continued. Prince Charles (now King Charles III) visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in 1992 and Prince Andrew in 2008. An official from HD Hyundai explained, “Korea-British cooperation, which started half a century ago with British support, continues today. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries continues to cooperate with British companies in the shipbuilding and maritime sectors.”

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“The UK is not just a partner country, but a special partner with the beginning of HD Hyundai,” said Chairman Chung Ki-sun. “Based on HD Hyundai’s best technology and shipbuilding capabilities, it will contribute to the development of the British shipbuilding and maritime industries.”

This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.