Philadelphia: President Lee Jae Myung visited a shipyard in Philadelphia on Tuesday, marking a significant step in South Korea's efforts to assist in revitalizing the United States' shipbuilding industry. Lee's visit to the Hanwha Philly Shipyard came shortly after his summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee toured the Hanwha Philly Shipyard, which was acquired by the Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean last year for 140 billion won (US$100 million). During his visit, he attended the christening ceremony for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) "State of Maine," constructed for the U.S. Maritime Administration. Lee was joined by senior officials from both South Korea and the United States at the event.

The Philadelphia shipyard holds the distinction of being the first U.S. shipyard acquired by a South Korean company and is a central component of Seoul's initiative to bolster shipbuilding collaboration, known as "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" (MASGA). Lee emphasized South Korea's commitment to enhancing U.S. maritime security and rejuvenating the American shipbuilding sector through this project.

Lee stated, "The Republic of Korea's shipbuilding industry is setting out to take on a new challenge to contribute to strengthening U.S. maritime security and rejuvenating America's shipbuilding industry." He expressed optimism that the MASGA project would create a mutually beneficial outcome for both nations' shipbuilding industries.

Furthermore, Lee voiced his hope that the initiative would foster a "future-oriented, comprehensive strategic partnership" between the two countries, encompassing security, economic, and technological cooperation. The MASGA project is a pivotal element in a recent trade agreement between Seoul and Washington, aiming to establish new shipyards in the U.S., build American ships, and promote collaboration on maintenance, repair, and overhaul projects.

During the summit with Lee, Trump announced the U.S.'s intention to purchase Korean ships and collaborate with South Korea to revitalize America's shipbuilding industry, highlighting the appreciation for Korean shipbuilding expertise.

Following his visit to the shipyard, Lee will return to Seoul, concluding a six-day international tour that also included discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo.