President Lee Jae-myung stated on July 7 that Hanwha Ocean's failure to be selected as the preferred bidder for Canada's submarine project (CPSP) is a reminder that challenges often come with both successes and disappointments. He emphasized the importance of continuing to move forward.
In a post on Facebook, President Lee remarked, "Although we did not achieve the expected results in this Canadian submarine project, I believe we have once again demonstrated our capabilities to the international community."
He added, "Above all, our submarines have proven their excellent performance and technology by competing confidently with leading submarine nations. I am confident that today’s experience will serve as a valuable foundation for further enhancing our technology and competitiveness."
President Lee affirmed, "The bold challenges of K-defense will continue. The government will do everything possible, from research and development to export support and strengthening international cooperation, to ensure that our submarines protect peace and safety in the world's oceans."
He also noted, "The defense industry of South Korea is emerging as a new growth engine that the world is paying attention to and is a core industry for national competitiveness. These achievements are the fruits of the hard work of countless researchers, engineers, businesspeople, and our service members who have worked together."
President Lee mentioned that July 8 is designated as 'Defense Industry Day' to commemorate the day the turtle ship was first deployed in combat. He expressed deep gratitude and respect to all those who have contributed to elevating the status of 'K-defense' to a global level.
Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President, acknowledged on Facebook the Canadian government's decision, which considered various factors such as economic and industrial cooperation, security, and costs. He expressed disappointment, stating, "It is true that I feel a great sense of loss, as I was directly involved in the field as a special envoy of the President and poured all our efforts into this project with our 'Defense Industry One Team.'"
Kang emphasized that the significance of this challenge is not small, stating, "It has served as a clear opportunity to imprint the technological prowess of South Korean submarines and our industrial competitiveness in the global market."
He concluded, "I will not let this result be merely a consolation of 'we lost but fought well.' We will address the shortcomings and further strengthen our advantages to ensure that we achieve shining results in the next challenge."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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