World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
South Korea schedules launch ceremony for new attack submarine
South Korea’s Navy was set to hold a ceremony in Geoje for the 3,600-ton Seo Hui attack submarine on Tuesday.
The vessel is the second submarine in the country’s Jang Bogo-III Batch-II program, following the lead vessel launched last year.
These submarines are larger than the 3,000-ton Batch-I boats already in service and have an expanded system for launching missiles from underwater.
The Seo Hui also uses lithium-ion batteries and air-independent propulsion to stay submerged for longer periods.
South Korea sees it as a way to strengthen its undersea deterrence as North Korea expands its naval fleet.
The submarine is expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2028, after operational tests.
South Korea’s Navy was set to hold a launch ceremony for the 3,600-ton Seo Hui attack submarine on Nov. 3, 2026.
The submarine was to enter the water for the first time at Hanwha Ocean’s shipyard in Geoje.
Seo Hui is the second vessel in South Korea’s Jang Bogo-III Batch-II submarine program.
The Navy said the submarine will strengthen undersea deterrence against maritime threats around the Korean Peninsula.
It is expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2028 after operational tests.
- Who
- South Korea’s Navy and the Seo Hui submarine.
- What
- The Navy scheduled a launch ceremony for the 3,600-ton attack submarine.
- When
- Nov. 3, 2026.
- Where
- Hanwha Ocean’s shipyard in Geoje, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
- Why
- To boost South Korea’s undersea deterrence against maritime threats around the Korean Peninsula.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Jang Young-sil, the lead vessel in the Batch-II program, was launched.
The Navy was set to hold the Seo Hui’s launch ceremony at the Geoje shipyard.
The Seo Hui is expected to be delivered to the Navy after operational tests.
- Submarine
- Seo Hui
- Displacement
- 3,600 tons
- Shipyard
- Hanwha Ocean, Geoje
- Program position
- Second vessel in the Jang Bogo-III Batch-II program
- Expected delivery
- 2028