In this blog post, we’ll examine how South Korea developed its shipbuilding technology and grew into a world-leading shipbuilding powerhouse, focusing on technological advancements such as riveting, welding, block construction methods, and pre-outfitting.

How have shipbuilding technologies evolved?

For centuries, our ancestors have utilized “boats” as a means of transportation to take advantage of South Korea’s geographical advantage of being surrounded by the sea on three sides. Today, ships are built for a variety of purposes—such as container ships and yachts—depending on their intended use. Building a single ship requires various processes, including design, construction, and installation, and South Korea is a country with highly advanced shipbuilding technology. So, what shipbuilding technologies did South Korea develop that enabled it to grow into a world-leading shipbuilding powerhouse? By tracing the history of these technological advancements, we can understand the path South Korea has taken to become a leading shipbuilding nation.

Why did the industry shift from riveting to welding?

Shipbuilding refers to the process of transforming a ship’s design into an actual vessel. During the construction process, the hull was built by joining steel plates together; prior to World War II, riveting was the primary method used. The riveting process was costly due to the high price of rivets, and it had the drawback of increasing the hull’s weight. Furthermore, there was a risk of the rivets corroding due to seawater, which posed maintenance challenges. However, after World War II, technological advancements made welding possible, and shipbuilders began joining steel plates using welding techniques. The welding process not only addressed the shortcomings of the riveting process but also provided higher joint strength, thereby improving the efficiency of shipbuilding operations and accelerating the development of the shipbuilding industry. Even today, the welding process is widely used in hull construction.

How did the block construction method make it possible to build large ships?

A construction method that emerged later is the block construction method. This method involves dividing the hull into tens to hundreds of blocks, fabricating and assembling each block on land, and then transporting them to a shipyard or dry dock to assemble the hull. Before the block construction method was adopted, shipbuilders used the “single-piece assembly” method, in which the ship’s skeleton was completed sequentially before the outer plating was attached one sheet at a time; however, it was extremely difficult to build large ships using this method. As the block construction method evolved, the construction of large ships became possible, and the sizes and types of ships that could be built became far more diverse than before. The method of dividing a single ship into multiple blocks for fabrication and assembly also played a key role in shortening shipbuilding lead times and streamlining operations.

How did pre-fitting increase shipyard productivity?

The final shipbuilding method is the outfitting-ahead method. Outfitting-ahead refers to the process of pre-installing various outfitting components—such as piping, wiring, and mechanical devices—both inside and outside the blocks before they are assembled. This method enhances shipbuilding efficiency by conducting block assembly and outfitting work simultaneously. “Outfitting” refers to the installation of various devices and equipment required for the ship’s functionality and consists of hull outfitting, engine outfitting, and electrical outfitting. Outfitting work involves attaching various mechanical and electrical devices—including the main engines necessary for the ship’s operation—and connecting them into a single system. Traditionally, outfitting work was performed after the hull was constructed and the ship was afloat. However, this method was time-consuming and presented significant challenges when installing large outfitting components.
Following the introduction of advance outfitting, block assembly and outfitting work could be carried out indoors, reducing the impact of weather conditions. Furthermore, by performing outfitting and block installation simultaneously, the time required for outfitting after launch was also shortened. Advance outfitting remains a critical process in shipbuilding today, and research into process optimization and automation to enhance productivity continues.

How did South Korea’s shipbuilding industry secure global competitiveness?

So far, we have explored shipbuilding methods. As shipbuilding methods have evolved, the competitive landscape of the shipbuilding industry has also changed. South Korea’s shipbuilding industry grew by adopting the technologies and production methods of advanced shipbuilding nations, including Japan, and adapting them to the country’s industrial environment. In particular, the advancement of production methods—such as block construction and pre-outfitting—laid the foundation for the efficient construction of large vessels. Based on these advancements in shipbuilding technology and the expanded production capacity of large shipyards, South Korea’s shipbuilding industry has achieved global competitiveness.
However, it is difficult to say that South Korea currently holds the top position in the global shipbuilding market in terms of order volume. Although South Korea was once the world’s leading shipbuilding order recipient, China has surpassed it in total order volume since 2021. In 2025, China accounted for approximately 63% of global new ship orders, while South Korea held approximately 21%, ranking second. In the first half of 2026, South Korea secured orders for approximately 7.97 million CGT of ships, accounting for about 19% of the global market and ranking second behind China. Nevertheless, the South Korean shipbuilding industry maintains strong competitiveness in high-value-added vessel segments, such as LNG carriers, and has recently been making sustained efforts to enhance its competitiveness through new technologies, including eco-friendly ships, smart shipyards, and the automation and digitization of shipbuilding processes.
Competition in the global shipbuilding market is extremely fierce, and South Korea’s shipbuilding industry also faces new challenges. Therefore, rather than resting on its laurels with the shipbuilding technologies it has developed so far, the industry must develop new technologies and further enhance the efficiency of existing ones. In particular, it is crucial to strengthen the competitiveness of high-value-added and eco-friendly vessels in line with the changing demands of the shipbuilding market, and to advance the automation and digitization of production processes. Just as South Korea’s shipbuilding industry grew into a global powerhouse by evolving its construction methods—from riveting to welding, from the single-piece fitting method to the block construction method, and to advanced outfitting—it will need to continue its efforts to constantly develop new technologies and create innovative construction methods.