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Mayor Park Heong-joon Announces Full-Scale AI Transformation of Shipbuilding Industry: Launch of the “AI Innovation Alliance”

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will sign a memorandum of understanding for the AI transformation of the shipbuilding industry and hold the launch ceremony of the “AI Innovation Alliance” today (18th) at 10:00 a.m. at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center.

The event will be attended by approximately 70 participants from industry, academia, research institutes, and government, including Mayor Park Heong-joon; Ha Tae-kyung, Co-Chair of the Busan AI Committee; Ryu Dong-geun, President of Korea Maritime and Ocean University; Lee Jae-woo, Vice President for Academic Affairs of Pusan National University; Yoo Seung-mok, President of the Korea Foundry Society; Choi Geum-sik, Chairman of the Busan Cooperative of Shipbuilding & Marine Equipment Industry; the Director of the Intelligent Root Technology Research Institute at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology; Bae Jeong-cheol, President of the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute; Seo Yong-seok, President of the Research Institute of Medium & Small Shipbuilding; Kim Tae-hwan, Vice Chairman of the Korea Industrial Intelligence Association; Jeong Hyeon-don, President of the Busan Venture Business Association; Kim Tae-yeol, President of the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency; and Kim Hyeong-gyun, President of Busan Technopark, along with representatives from 12 institutions and 35 companies.

The memorandum of understanding has been prepared to introduce AI technologies and build a collaborative foundation to drive process innovation and strengthen the competitiveness of Busan’s shipbuilding industry.

A total of 12 institutions are participating in the agreement, including Busan Metropolitan City, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute, the Research Institute of Medium & Small Shipbuilding, the Korea Foundry Society, the Korea Industrial Intelligence Association, the Busan Venture Business Association, the Busan Cooperative of Shipbuilding & Marine Equipment Industry, Pusan National University, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency, and Busan Technopark.

The key components of the agreement include ▲AI technology development and on-site demonstration ▲establishment of an online communication community ▲joint identification of government-supported projects ▲training of specialized personnel and technology exchange ▲standardization of data collection and analysis.

The “AI Innovation Alliance,” launched on this day, has been established to address structural issues faced by small and medium-sized shipbuilding companies in Busan, such as ▲aging skilled workers ▲high defect rates ▲lack of digital infrastructure.

Its objective is to enhance productivity and quality competitiveness through AI-based process innovation and to build an industrial ecosystem grounded in public-private collaboration.

Since launching the AI Committee in September last year (2025) and presenting the vision of “Marine AI Hub Busan,” the city has been exploring AI-based manufacturing innovation strategies through on-site visits to shipbuilding and foundry companies in industrial complexes in Gangseo-gu.

In particular, due to the nature of the shipbuilding industry, which heavily depends on skilled labor, there have been ongoing challenges such as difficulties in transferring expertise, variations in quality, and declining productivity. As a result, the need for AI transformation—such as process data analysis, defect prediction, and automated quality control—is increasing.

Through the “AI Innovation Alliance,” the city plans to support the AI transformation of SMEs in the shipbuilding industry and foster supplier companies with relevant technologies to simultaneously strengthen industrial competitiveness and create jobs.

By establishing AI-based process innovation models centered on on-site demonstration, the city aims to enhance the productivity of demand-side companies while expanding growth opportunities for technology suppliers, thereby creating a virtuous cycle within the regional industrial ecosystem.

In addition, based on an open collaboration structure involving demand companies, suppliers, and public institutions, the city plans to identify joint projects and expand cooperation with domestic and international companies and research institutes, developing the “AI Innovation Alliance” into a practical collaboration platform.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “We will continue to support the AI transformation of the shipbuilding industry by reflecting the voices from the field in our policies,” adding, “We will strive to enhance the competitiveness of local SMEs and ensure this leads to the creation of sustainable, high-quality jobs.”