Chung Ki-sun, executive vice chairman of Korean shipbuilding conglomerate HD Hyundai, recently visited the US Naval Academy in Maryland, the company announced Sunday.

During his visit on Friday, Chung met with key academy officials, including Superintendent Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids and Academic Dean Samara Firebaugh.

He also toured the academy’s hull structure class and fluid dynamics laboratory, engaging with faculty and students in discussions about the future of the naval industry.

"South Korea is a strong ally and a trusted partner of the US, and together we will be a driving force in the innovation of the shipbuilding and maritime industry," said Chung at a meeting with the students.

"The ROK-US alliance was forged in sacrifice and has been strengthened over the decades. Today, it is more than a military partnership. It is a pillar of global security. As challenges evolve, so too must our cooperation."

Chung’s visit to the naval academy comes as the US seeks collaboration with shipbuilding giants in allied nations such as South Korea and Japan to revitalize its struggling shipbuilding industry.

The US’ limited shipbuilding capacity has emerged as a major challenge for its naval forces, especially as China’s military fleet has significantly outgrown it in numbers.

In February, HD Hyundai expressed its intention to collaborate with the US at a conference hosted by the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC, stating its support for addressing naval security issues in the Indo-Pacific region.