South Korea has announced plans to build the world’s largest liquefied hydrogen (LH2) carrier by 2027, aiming to lead the future of hydrogen shipping and reinforce its dominance in global shipbuilding.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) will invest KRW 55.5 billion (approximately $39.2 million) this year to support the project. A dedicated public-private task force, including experts from MOTIE, leading shipbuilders, universities, and research institutes, was launched in Busan on May 9, 2025, to oversee the initiative.
“Liquefied hydrogen carriers are the next-generation vessels, building on our expertise in LNG ships,” MOTIE said. “This project will give Korea a significant competitive edge in the hydrogen shipping market and unlock new global opportunities.”
The LH2 carrier will be engineered to liquefy hydrogen gas at -253°C, compressing it to 1/800th of its original volume and enhancing transport efficiency more than tenfold. To date, no country has commercialized a large-scale vessel of this kind.
This development is part of a broader national strategy launched in 2024 to help Korea become a global leader in LH2 carrier technology. The government also plans to introduce legal and regulatory frameworks to support global adoption of its hydrogen shipping standards.