Czech Delegation Visits Changwon Focused on K-Defense... Interest in Defense and Railways

Former Czech Prime Minister and key figures from the Czech Republic, on the verge of finalizing a KRW 24 trillion new nuclear power plant construction contract, visited Changwon, Gyeongnam, the hub of K-defense industry.

The Czech delegation, attending the 9th Czech-Korean Forum for the Future, stayed in Changwon for two days starting from the 29th of last month.

Jan Fischer, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, is giving a greeting at Hyundai Rotem. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

As their first schedule in Changwon, the delegation met with Mayor Hong Nam-pyo at Changwon City Hall, confirming an all-around cooperative relationship including nuclear power and defense industries, and agreed to further strengthen exchanges.

They then visited Changwon’s leading defense industry companies?Hyundai Rotem, Hanwha Aerospace, and Doosan Enerbility?in succession to reaffirm their cooperative ties.

Heo Seong-mu, Member of the National Assembly for Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam (left), and Jan Fischer, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, are test-driving the K-9. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

Hyundai Rotem focused on promoting its corporate history, past export achievements, and performance of railway vehicles, considering the high-speed rail project promoted by the Czech government.

Hanwha Aerospace showcased its integrated defense system covering land, sea, and air, as well as advanced strategic weapons including the K-9 self-propelled howitzer, a core defense weapon developed with Korea’s independent technology.

Doosan Enerbility introduced its capabilities in offshore wind power projects, gas turbine and main equipment manufacturing technology for nuclear power plants, and hydrogen energy technology through a promotional video in Czech, also highlighting its experience in nuclear power plant exports.

The Czech delegation, including former Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer, is taking a commemorative photo with Hyundai Rotem officials. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

The delegation consisted of key Czech figures including Jan Fischer, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic; Slamecka, former Minister of Transport and former Ambassador to Korea; Roman Belor, member of the Chamber of Deputies; Ivan Jancarek, Czech Ambassador to Korea; Pavel Trojan, Secretary-General of the Prague Spring International Music Festival; and Kamil Blazek, Chairman of the Czech Private Investment Promotion Committee.

Korean participants included Heo Seong-moo, National Assembly member for Changwon Seongsan; Lee Tae-sik, former Ambassador to the United States; Moon Ha-young, former Ambassador to the Czech Republic; Lim Jeong-hyuk, representative lawyer of Sanwoo Law Firm; Lee Byung-chul, CEO of Future and Challenge; Lee Il-hwan, Chairman of Daeil Shipping and Aviation; Lee Yong-il, technical advisor of the forum; Noh Seung-wook, Secretary-General of the Future Forum; and Lim Do-gyun, lawyer at Sanwoo (staff member).

The Czech delegation is overlooking the Doosan Enerbility site. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

In June, the delegation experienced Korea’s high-speed train technology firsthand by riding the latest powered distributed semi-high-speed train (EMU-260) ‘KTX-Eum,’ which successfully exported to Uzbekistan for KRW 270 billion.

Former Prime Minister Jan Fischer also boarded the K-9 self-propelled howitzer, exported to nine countries including Poland, and rode inside the business site.

Jan Fischer, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, is looking at a commemorative gift received from Hanwha Aerospace. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

Earlier, in July, the Czech government selected ‘Team Korea,’ consisting of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Doosan Enerbility, as the preferred negotiator for the construction project of two new nuclear reactors (Units 5 and 6) at Dukovany, worth KRW 24 trillion.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power is currently negotiating for the final contract scheduled for March next year, and once negotiations are completed, plans to begin new nuclear power plant construction from 2029.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.