ULSAN, South Korea – South Korea’s Navy formally launched its second Aegis destroyer, the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (DDG-996), at a ceremony held September 17th, 2025, at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan. The 8,200-ton vessel, equipped with the U.S.-developed Aegis Combat System, is intended to bolster South Korea’s missile defense capabilities amid escalating regional tensions.
The launch ceremony, attended by Minister of National Defense Ahn Kyu-baek and other senior military and defense industry officials, marked a significant milestone in the Republic of Korea Navy’s (ROKN) KDX-III Batch-II program. The 170-meter long, 21-meter wide destroyer is designed to track ballistic missiles with greater accuracy than previous classes, according to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The Dasan Jeong Yak-yong is named after a prominent Joseon Dynasty scholar, Jeong Yak-yong, whose emphasis on practicality and innovation is intended to symbolize the ship’s advanced technological capabilities. The first ship in the class, the Jeongjo the Great, was delivered to the ROKN in November 2024. A third and final vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2027, completing the KDX-III Batch-II program.
The launch occurs as South Korea navigates a complex geopolitical landscape, balancing its security alliance with the United States and its substantial economic relationship with China. Analysts note that increasing competition between Washington and Beijing is placing Seoul under growing strategic pressure. A recent report by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy indicated that over 33% of South Korea’s maritime trade transits the Taiwan Strait, highlighting the potential economic disruption from regional instability.
The Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’s capabilities include an integrated sonar system and advanced interceptor capabilities. Future upgrades are planned to enable the ship to carry ship-to-ground ballistic missiles and long-range interceptors, expanding its operational flexibility. The vessel is too equipped to launch both long-range and lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes and will operate with MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
According to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the destroyer represents a key example of Korea-U.S. Cooperation in shipbuilding, integrating the American Aegis Combat System into a vessel developed domestically. The company stated that the successful launch of the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, following the Jeongjo the Great, solidifies its position as a world-leading builder of Aegis destroyers.
The ROKN has not announced a specific date for the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’s commissioning, but it is scheduled for delivery in 2026.
