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Photo = Hanwha Ocean |
[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Sangjin] Suspicion has been raised that Hanwha Ocean illegally possessed the original "concept design" of the next-generation Korean destroyer (KDDX) developed during the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) era and referenced it in the basic design. As a result, the National Defense Intelligence Command (NDIC) is reportedly expanding its investigation to include Hanwha Ocean.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), which are in the process of selecting a contractor for the KDDX project, have stated that they will proceed with the contractor selection process separately from the ongoing investigation.
According to government and defense industry sources on the 12th, the NDIC is currently conducting an investigation into DAPA. Given the circumstances, they are planning to expand the scope of the investigation to include the companies involved in the case.
In addition to the ongoing investigation into DAPA, the investigation may extend to the involved companies, including Hanwha Ocean. DAPA has identified evidence suggesting that DSME used its own concept design report without proper approval in its "KDDX Basic Design Proposal" and has referred the matter to the NDIC for investigation.
DAPA has raised concerns about Hanwha Ocean's actions, claiming that the company made an additional copy of the original report and kept it for its own records. According to the contract, Hanwha Ocean was required to submit five copies of the report and three CDs upon completion of the service. However, it is alleged that Hanwha Ocean produced and retained an additional copy of the report that was not submitted.
DAPA believes that Hanwha Ocean violated relevant regulations and contract conditions. According to the Defense Industry Security Regulations, the return of concept design results is mandatory, and under the specific contract conditions for the concept design, any know-how and related materials generated during the project belong to the government.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim SangJin(letyou@alphabiz.co.kr)
