A decommissioning ceremony for Jang Bogo, Korea's first submarine (1,200-ton class), will be held on the 29th. Launched in 1991 and sailing about 633,000 kilometers over 34 years, Jang Bogo will be decommissioned on the 31st.
The Navy said it will hold a decommissioning ceremony for Jang Bogo on this day at the parade ground of the Navy Submarine Force Command in Changwon, South Gyeongsang. The ceremony, presided over by Navy Operations Commander Kim Kyung-ryul, will be attended by Navy Chief of Staff Kang Dong-gil, An Byeong-gu, the first commanding officer of Jang Bogo, former crew members and their families, and about 300 others.
Jang Bogo is the first ship of the Type 209 submarines. Construction began at the German shipyard HDW in 1988, and it was launched in 1991. The Navy took delivery of the submarine in 1992 and deployed it for operations in 1994. Jang Bogo completed its final voyage on the 19th of last month, wrapping up 34 years of duty.
Around the event pier, the domestically designed KSS-III Submarine (3,000-ton class), the Son Won-il–class submarine (1,800-ton class), the submarine rescue ship Cheonghaejin (3,200-ton class), and the Ganghwado (5,600-ton class) will be deployed.
Kang said, "The Navy submarines that follow in Jang Bogo's wake will continue to guard Korea's seas from the deepest places, in the most covert manner, and with the strongest power, for the nation and the people."
Meanwhile, attention is on whether the decommissioned Jang Bogo will be used to support defense exports. The Ministry of National Defense previously said last month that it would transfer Jang Bogo to Poland free of charge, but Korea lost to Sweden in Poland's submarine acquisition program.
Jeong Bit-na, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said at the ministry's regular briefing on this day, "Nothing has changed yet in the situation, and we are reviewing various options." It is interpreted to mean that the free transfer to Poland has not yet been finalized.