Seoul: South Korea is set to transfer a retiring 1,200-ton submarine to Poland free of charge, military sources revealed. This move appears to support a South Korean defense firm bidding for Poland's submarine procurement project.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the defense ministry plans to hand over the ROKS Jang Bogo, the country's first naval submarine, which is scheduled to retire at the end of the year after 34 years of service. This initiative aligns with Poland's aim to acquire up to four submarines to replace its aging fleet under the Orka project. South Korean defense firm Hanwha Ocean Co. is one of the contenders for the multibillion-dollar contract.

The South Korean defense ministry has not confirmed the specifics of the plan, citing international relations. However, it stated that the ROKS Jang Bogo will be effectively utilized for defense exports and arms industry cooperation.

The 1,200-ton submarine was launched at an HDW shipyard in Germany in 1991 and was subsequently acquired by the South Korean Navy the following year. Named after a legendary ninth-century maritime explorer and trader from the Unified Silla Kingdom, the ROKS Jang Bogo has sailed approximately 633,000 kilometers since 1992, a distance comparable to circling the globe 15 times.

Since last year, the submarine has primarily been used by the Navy for training crew members and conducting maintenance workshops. South Korea has a history of transferring retiring naval vessels to other countries, such as Colombia and Peru, as part of efforts to strengthen international ties.