The Korea Times
Legal disputes over design data in Korea’s next-generation destroyer program have exposed a growing fault line in how defense projects are awarded and managed. The row centers on the Korea Destroyer Next Generation project, also known as KDDX, a plan to build six 6,000-ton Aegis-class destroyers with domestic technology. The project, valued at around 7.8 trillion won ($5.1 billion), has already faced delays, and the latest clash adds fresh uncertainty as companies prepare bids for the next phase. This time, the issue is not about who will win the contract, but what information should be shared before the decision is made. The program was shifted from a negotiated deal to an open bidding process by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), after controversy over a past security breach involving HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The move opened the competition to Hanwha Ocean, which did not take part in the basic design stage, to compete for the detailed design and construction work. That change created a practical dilemma. Hanwha Ocean needs access to the existing design to submit
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