The launch ceremony for Jang Yeong-sil, the first ship of Korea's first 3,600-ton-class submarine, was held on the 22nd at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje Shipyard in South Gyeongsang. As Jang Yeong-sil is a core strategic weapon of the Korean military and the lead ship, the president's attendance had been expected, but President Lee Jae-myung did not attend the ceremony.
According to the Navy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Jang Yeong-sil, unveiled six years after a construction contract in 2019, is 89 meters long, making it larger than the KSS-III Submarine (3,000-ton class, 83 meters). Its detection and strike capabilities, stealth, and survivability have also been improved. It is known to have increased the number of vertical launch tubes for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) from six to as many as 10. In addition, by improving the performance of the combat system, the "brain" of the submarine, and the sonar system, its "eyes and ears," information processing and target detection capabilities have been enhanced.
It is also equipped with lithium batteries, improving submerged endurance and sailing time and reducing exposure risk. Jang Yeong-sil is said to be able to operate for up to two to three weeks once it goes underwater. The Navy said underwater radiated noise has been reduced with noise and vibration reduction technologies, enhancing its "stealth."
Jang Yeong-sil will be delivered to the Navy at the end of 2027 after a test and evaluation period, and then will complete force integration and be deployed to active duty. The Navy and DAPA expect Jang Yeong-sil to contribute to submarine defense exports in the future.
However, government officials such as President Lee, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, and Ahn Gyu-baek, Minister of the Ministry of National Defense, did not attend. Typically, all former presidents have attended the launch ceremonies of lead submarines. Former President Roh Tae-woo attended the launch of Icheon in 1992, former President Roh Moo-hyun attended Son Won-il, and former President Moon Jae-in attended the KSS-III launch ceremony. Former Presidents Kim Young-sam and Park Geun-hye, who had no lead-ship launch ceremonies during their terms, also attended the launches of Choi Mu-seon and Kim Jwa-jin, respectively.
The ceremony was hosted with Navy Chief of Staff Kang Dong-gil as the principal guest. The ship's launching line was cut by Kang's wife, Park Mi-young. This signifies breathing life into a newly built ship, as if cutting a newborn's umbilical cord.