Dec 10, 2025 – A Canadian submariner boards the ROKS Ahn Mu during a six‑day Silent Shark drill near Guam, marking the first foreign crew on a 3,000‑ton South Korean submarine and showcasing interoperability that Seoul leverages in its bid for Canada’s Patrol Submarine Project, which seeks up to 12 vessels with the first delivery by 2035; Hanwha Ocean and ThyssenKrupp remain the two shortlisted suppliers[9].

Jan 21, 2026 – Canada’s Richard Arbeiter tells Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Eui‑hae that Ottawa has strong confidence in South Korea’s defence industry for the next‑generation submarine project and proposes a “two‑plus‑two” foreign‑defence ministers meeting to deepen Indo‑Pacific cooperation, while noting Canada plans to acquire eight to twelve submarines with the first unit delivered no later than 2035[8].

Jan 26, 2026 – Chief of Staff Kang Hoon‑sik flies to Toronto to lobby for the Korean bid on the Canadian submarine programme, emphasizing that the competition now pits Korea against Germany and announcing his subsequent trip to Norway to expand defence ties, as South Korea readies broader outreach to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia and Peru to become a top‑four arms exporter[6].

Jan 26, 2026 – Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung joins Kang’s delegation, alongside Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan, to promote the Hanwha‑HD Hyundai consortium and explore Canadian business opportunities, while Canada requires bidders to provide domestic repair facilities and automobile‑manufacturing plants as part of the eight‑to‑twelve submarine contract worth up to 60 trillion won[7].

Jan 29, 2026 – Kang delivers President Lee’s personal letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa, briefs officials on advanced Korean submarine technology, and cites the contract as a “major step forward” that could open NATO markets, while Stephen Fuhr is scheduled to visit South Korea next week to board a Korean Navy submarine as part of the dialogue[5].

Jan 31, 2026 – After returning from Canada and Norway, Kang tells reporters that Korean submarine technology “is significantly better (than that of our rivals)” and expresses confidence the bid will succeed despite NATO‑related ties between Canada and Germany, noting a decision could come within six months to a year and highlighting Hanwha Aerospace’s recent 19‑billion‑kroner artillery deal in Norway as a sign of expanding export success[4].

Feb 2, 2026 – Stephen Fuhr inspects Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard, boards the 3,600‑ton Jang Yeong‑sil submarine and calls the experience “amazing,” while stressing Canada’s focus on automotive offsets and economic value, and reminding that detailed proposals from Hanwha and ThyssenKrupp must be submitted by the March deadline for the 3,000‑ton, up‑to‑12‑submarine CPSP valued at about US $41 billion[3].

Feb 5, 2026 – Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back meets Fuhr at the Blue House, highlighting South Korea’s indigenous submarine expertise and rapid, stable delivery, and Fuhr praises the Korean industrial base and systematic follow‑up support, underscoring the strategic‑arms partnership potential as Ottawa prepares to select a supplier for the $41 billion patrol submarine project[1].

Feb 5, 2026 – Chief of Staff Kang Hoon‑sik meets Fuhr at Cheong Wa Dae for a second time within two weeks, reinforcing Seoul’s intensified lobbying and confirming that the Canadian $41 billion submarine project is nearing supplier selection, with Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai competing against Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems[2].