JEJU-DO < invest Korea

According to Yonhap News,

(JEJU = Yonhap News) — Jeju National University announced on August 18 that it signed a business agreement with Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. to foster growth-engine industries in the Jeju region and train local talent through university innovation.

The agreement aims to build a collaborative framework with Korea's leading defense and shipbuilding enterprise in the eco-friendly marine MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) sector, developing local talent and driving a major transformation of regional industry.

Both organizations will actively cooperate to expand educational collaboration for training marine MRO specialists, discover joint research projects, promote technical exchanges, and strengthen regional competitiveness by fostering the marine MRO industry.

Through this partnership, Jeju National University has laid the educational foundation to cultivate specialized personnel in marine MRO while gaining strong momentum to establish a dedicated brand college in the field.

The signing ceremony took place on August 14 at Hanwha Ocean's headquarters in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, attended by Yang Deok-soon, President of Jeju National University, and Eo Sung-chul, President of Hanwha Ocean's Naval & Special Ship Business Unit.

"This collaboration with Hanwha Ocean will serve as a groundbreaking opportunity for Jeju students to grow into experts in marine MRO, a key future industry," President Yang said during the ceremony. "We will contribute to establishing a virtuous regional industrial ecosystem that attracts outstanding talent to Jeju."

"Starting with this agreement with Jeju National University, Hanwha Ocean will establish a new MRO model that harmonizes industrial development with environmental preservation by applying strict eco-friendly standards and advanced technologies," President Eo replied. "In the long term, we plan to export an 'eco-friendly MRO industrial model' spanning technology, talent, and operational systems to the global market."

Previously, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Hanwha Ocean held the "Jeju MRO Future–Open Innovation Seminar" in Jeju in January.

Attended by around 100 stakeholders from industry, academia, research, and government—including representatives from Jeju Province, Hanwha Ocean, and Jeju National University—the seminar featured presentations and panel discussions on "Global MRO Industry Trends and Jeju-tailored Fostering Strategies."

Jeju Province plans to step-by-step foster vessel MRO as a differentiated new growth driver for the region in connection with its port and maritime infrastructure.

khc@yna.co.kr



Copyrights Yonhap News. All Rights Reserved.
Reprint or redistribution without permission is prohibited.

Source Text

Source: Yonhap News (August 18, 2026)

** This article was translated from Korean.