City, Navy chief and Marine Corps commander gather Friday afternoon for 'Maritime and Naval Program AX Cooperation MOU'; agreement covers maritime AI infrastructure, technology demonstration and regional defense industry support

A diagram showing the structure of the defense AI transformation hub [Busan city government]
A diagram showing the structure of the defense AI transformation hub [Busan city government]

Busan will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Korea Navy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Friday afternoon to establish a cooperative framework for AI transformation — known as AX — in maritime and naval programs.

The signing ceremony will be held at the Busan Institute for Information Technology Promotion, which serves as the Navy and Marine Corps' defense AX hub, and will take place alongside the hub's opening ceremony and a maritime and defense AI vision declaration. Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, Navy Chief of Staff Kim Gyeong-ryul, Marine Corps Commandant Ju Il-seok and Busan Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Agency Director Lee Cheong-il are expected to attend.

The agreement is designed to accelerate AI adoption in maritime and naval programs by leveraging maritime and defense environments and data, and to strengthen the competitiveness of related technologies. Under the MOU, Busan will take charge of building AI infrastructure for the maritime sector — including data centers — and fostering an industrial ecosystem. The Navy will review operational concepts for AI technology development and provide a technology demonstration environment, while DAPA will drive AI research and development in maritime and naval programs and support the growth of the regional defense industry.

The city said it expects the agreement to attract major naval defense companies and research institutes to the region, and that technology exchange and cooperation with local AI firms and universities will help build a self-sustaining industrial ecosystem and expand partnerships between large enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Major shipbuilders have recently been establishing and expanding research units in the region, creating more jobs for local talent. The AI transformation of naval programs and the growth of related markets are expected to generate more youth employment opportunities.

Advanced shipbuilding is a key growth engine for the southeastern region under the government's "5 poles, 3 specials" regional development framework. AX technologies developed for naval vessels are also expected to spread to the civilian shipbuilding sector, improving efficiency in ship and vessel maintenance, repair and overhaul operations.

"As the era of Arctic shipping routes arrives in earnest, strengthening maritime security is essential," Mayor Jeon said. "We will do our utmost to secure independent AX capabilities to support that goal and to grow the related ecosystem."


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