Korean warships make waves in Hawaii, drawing praise from foreign naval personnel

하와이 메운 'K-함정'의 위상… 방문객 찬사 잇따라 South Korea, being the only country besides the U.S. to deploy both an Aegis destroyer and a submarine to RIMPAC, drew a lot of attention from participating navies, for their newest technologies and impressive warships. Our Kim Bo-kyoung tells us more. When the South Korean Navy first participated in the Rim of the Pacific in 1990, it came with only two warships. This year, marking the 19th edition of its participation, a lot has changed. The Navy has not only assumed the role of maritime component commander, becoming the first navy from an Asian country to lead the force, it came with its most advanced naval assets along with more than seven-hundred Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Among the assets, the largest Aegis destroyer, the 8,200-ton Jeongjo the Great, drew particular attention, as only four South Korea, the U.S., Japan, and Australia were the participating nations that deployed Aegis destroyers. So far during the exercise period, around three-thousand visitors have come for a tour, who reportedly admired the ship's outstanding capabilities and advanced technology. "Many foreign visitors said the ship was impressive and looked brand new. This exercise showed me how much the Republic of Korea Navy's global reputation has grown, and it made me proud of our Navy." The frigate Daejeon welcomed a foreign naval crew, for a tour. "Many foreign naval personnel who toured the ship praised its well-designed living quarters and said its equipment is laid out with the operator in mind." The Dosan Ahn Changho, was another Korean naval asset for foreign personnel to tour, especially after it sailed approximately 14-thousand kilometers across the Pacific Ocean. In fact, only four nations, South Korea, the U.S., Canada and Peru deployed submarines this year for RIMPAC, and according to the commander of the submarine, Peruvian naval personnel were impressed by the scale of the three-thousand-ton submarine and its advanced capabilities. "Once seen as a small navy that only sent a couple of frigates to RIMPAC in the past, the Republic of Korea Navy has now emerged as a major maritime force, showcasing its advanced capabilities and rising global presence. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News, Honolulu." #SouthKorea #Navy #Warships #RIMPAC #대한민국 #해군 #림팩 #도산안창호함 #정조대왕함 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook :   / arirangtvnews   📣 Youtube :    / channel   📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2026-07-10, 20:00 (KST)