South Korean shipbuilding companies have long faced domestic labor shortages and heavily relied on foreign workers from Southeast Asia and other countries to fill the gap. Currently, the South Korean shipbuilding industry is determined to reverse this situation and is gradually beginning to cultivate Korean workers.
South Korean media reports indicate that HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to phase out foreign workers starting in 2026. Upon expiration of foreign workers’ visas, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will recruit Korean workers as replacements, accepting both industry newcomers and experienced shipyard workers without restrictions. This move reportedly aligns with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s recent directive to “expand the hiring scale of Korean workers at South Korean shipyards.”
The report states that the fact that Korean workers are not subject to visa expiration is a significant advantage of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ move. For foreign workers, although they have accumulated rich experience in the shipyard, they face the reality that they must leave the country when their visas expire.
Although HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ “preset is quite reasonable”, it faces a significant challenge: how to attract young Korean workers to the demanding shipbuilding industry and persuade them to relocate to industrial towns like Ulsan, where the company’s headquarters are located—areas that are not considered top choices for young professionals seeking livable environments.