In brief
The launch ceremony for the Seo Hui, scheduled for Tuesday at Hanwha Ocean Co.’s shipyard in Geoje, will showcase its expanded missile launch capability and extended submerged endurance. The vessel, a larger and longer variant of the 3,000‑ton Batch‑I submarines, is set to be delivered to the Navy in 2028 following operational trials.
According to Yonhap, South Korea’s Navy will hold a launch ceremony Tuesday for its latest indigenously‑built attack submarine, the 3,600‑ton Seo Hui, at Hanwha Ocean Co.’s shipyard in Geoje, 330 kilometres southeast of Seoul.
Yonhap reports that the Seo Hui is the second vessel in the Jang Bogo‑III Batch‑II submarine program, following the lead vessel Jang Young‑sil, which was launched in October of the previous year. Compared to the 3,000‑ton Batch‑I class submarines in active service, the Batch‑II boats are larger and longer.
The subcontracted submarine will feature an expanded vertical launch system capable of firing submarine‑launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), as noted by Yonhap. An advanced sensor suite provides the vessel with enhanced “eyes and ears,” while hybrid diesel‑electric propulsion with high‑capacity lithium‑ion batteries and air‑independent propulsion (AIP) enables significantly longer submerged endurance.
Yonhap explains that the Seo Hui’s capabilities are part of a broader effort to strengthen South Korea’s naval deterrence amid North Korea’s expanding fleet, which includes the new 5,000‑ton Kang Kon and Choe Hyon destroyers.
Delivery of the Seo Hui to the Navy is planned for 2028 after completion of various operational trials, according to Yonhap.
