For Canada, the ongoing Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, is a perfect opportunity for some submarine shopping.
Members of the Canadian delegation, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, are touring South Korean shipyards and submarine facilities this week, as Ottawa edges closer to selecting a partner for its multibillion-dollar submarine replacement program. South Korea is one of the two preferred contenders.
On Friday, Vice Adm. Angus Topshee, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, boarded Ahn Mu — South Korea’s homegrown 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Chang-ho class submarine — at a military base in Busan, to assess its capabilities amid Canada’s ongoing effort to acquire eight to 12 new diesel submarines.
The visit came a day after Prime Minister Carney toured South Korea’s newest submarine, the Jang Young-sil, which was launched on Oct. 22, at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard.
Ottawa first announced the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project in 2021 to replace its aging Victoria-class fleet. The initiative aims to secure up to a dozen new submarines capable of simultaneous patrols in the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans.
In August 2025, the Canadian government shortlisted two suppliers for in-depth talks: a South Korean consortium of Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
After inspecting the submarine, Vice Adm. Topshee met South Korean Chief of Naval Operations Kang Dong-gil in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, to discuss military cooperation between the two countries.
seungku99@heraldcorp.com
