SK Oceanplant has delivered the second Ulsan-class (FFX) Batch-III frigate, ROKS Gyeongbuk, to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy.
SK Oceanplant Press Release Translated by Naval News
SK Oceanplant announced on June 19 that it has delivered the ROK Navy’s latest frigate, ROKS Gyeongbuk, ahead of the original end-June schedule.
The delivery ceremony was held at SK Oceanplant’s headquarters in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province. Attendees included Hwang Jong-seo, Commander of the ROK Navy’s 8th Combat Training Group; Choi Sang-deok, Head of the Naval Ship Program Department at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration; Yang Geum-hui, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do; SK Oceanplant CEO Kang Young-gyu; and company executives and employees.
ROKS Gyeongbuk is a state-of-the-art 3,600-ton-class frigate, with a displacement of 4,300 tons, designed to replace the ROK Navy’s aging frigates and corvettes. It is the second ship of the Ulsan-class Batch-III program. The vessel measures 129 meters in length and 15 meters in beam, has a maximum speed of 30 knots, and features a hybrid propulsion system as well as enhanced detection and defensive capabilities.
The early delivery is significant not merely as an example of meeting a delivery deadline, but as a concrete achievement that addressed concerns raised by the market and industry at the early stage of the contract. At the time, concerns had been expressed over the company’s limited experience in building large combat vessels. However, SK Oceanplant overcame those concerns through systematic process management and technical verification.
In particular, ROKS Gyeongbuk successfully passed key evaluations, including sea trials and naval gun-firing tests, with strong results, demonstrating its performance, quality, and reliability. Based on these achievements, the ship was delivered ahead of schedule, reinforcing SK Oceanplant’s naval shipbuilding capabilities and credibility in program execution.
Following the early delivery of ROKS Gyeongbuk, SK Oceanplant plans to deliver the follow-on Ulsan-class Batch-III frigates, ROKS Jeonnam and ROKS Jeju, sequentially at intervals of approximately six months. Through these deliveries, the company aims to contribute to strengthening the ROK Navy’s capabilities and enhancing the competitiveness of Korea’s defense industry.
The early delivery of ROKS Gyeongbuk is a symbolic achievement that demonstrates how we overcame initial concerns through high-quality construction capabilities and product excellence. We will continue to contribute to the strengthening of the ROK Navy and the development of Korea’s defense industry based on our accumulated naval vessel construction technologies and systematic program management capabilities.
Kang Young-gyu CEO of SK Oceanplant
Since being designated as a defense contractor for naval shipbuilding in 2017, SK Oceanplant has successfully delivered more than 30 vessels to the ROK Navy and the Korea Coast Guard, building strong technical expertise and trust in the special-purpose vessel sector.
The company is also expanding its presence in the global defense market after securing a Master Ship Repair Agreement, or MSRA, which qualifies it to participate in maintenance, repair, and overhaul projects for major naval vessels, including U.S. Navy combat ships.