Kang Hoon-sik Heads to Canada as Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation... All-out Effort for 60 Trillion Won Submarine Contract

"Doing Our Utmost for Tangible Results in Energy and Supply Chains"

Expanding Cooperation with Resource-Rich Canada Amid Prolonged Middle East Crisis

Ministry of Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs, and Leading Companies Join Delegation in E

Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik departed for Canada on the 31st as a strategic economic cooperation special envoy for President Lee Jae-myung. This visit aims to expand strategic cooperation with Canada—a resource-rich nation—in the fields of energy, critical minerals, and high-tech industries, especially as global energy and supply chain uncertainties grow due to the prolonged Middle East crisis. There is also speculation that this trip is part of a final all-out push ahead of the announcement for the winner of Canada’s next-generation submarine project (CPSP), worth an estimated 60 trillion won.

Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik departed for Canada on the 31st as a strategic economic cooperation special envoy for President Lee Jae-myung. (Source: Kang Hoon-sik, Chief Presidential Secretary's Facebook)

On Facebook that day, Kang stated, "I am leaving for Canada as the President’s Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation," adding, "This delegation includes representatives from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as companies and organizations in the fields of energy, resources, supply chain, and advanced industries." According to the defense industry and other sources, Kang is scheduled to attend the "Korea-Canada Resource Security Supply Chain Cooperation Forum" in Canada.

Kang cited the May 8 phone call between President Lee and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as the backdrop for this visit. At that time, both leaders agreed on the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, secure stable energy supplies, and strengthen cooperation on supply chains. During the call, President Lee described Canada as a "core ally" and expressed hope for strengthened collaboration in a range of areas, including security, the economy, energy, critical minerals, and advanced industries.

Kang stated, "The Korea-Canada relationship is rapidly expanding across the economy, energy, and high-tech industries," and emphasized, "Especially as the Middle East crisis continues, I realize that our economic and industrial structures are highly complementary and that, as global middle powers, the synergy from our cooperation is extremely significant."

This is Kang’s second visit to Canada as a special envoy in four months. In January, Kang also visited Canada as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, meeting with Prime Minister Carney and high-level officials in defense, finance, and industry. This return visit is drawing attention not only for cooperation on energy and resource supply chains but also for ongoing defense industry issues such as Canada’s next-generation submarine project.

Canada is planning to replace its existing Victoria-class submarines with up to 12 new next-generation submarines, a project expected to be worth up to 60 trillion won. Since Canada is requiring domestic investment as a condition for bidders in the submarine procurement race, it is likely that Korea will propose resource and energy investment as part of its bid.

The Presidential Office believes that the need to expand cooperation with Canada has grown amid energy supply uncertainties and the restructuring of critical mineral supply chains resulting from the prolonged Middle East crisis. Canada is seen as a country with significant potential for cooperation with Korea, not only in energy resources such as oil and natural gas, but also in the supply chains for critical minerals needed by the battery, semiconductor, and electric vehicle industries.

Kang stated, "As this is my second special envoy visit in just four months, I will do my utmost to achieve tangible results that can expand strategic cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, resources, supply chains, and advanced industries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.