The first Pensacola port call by South Korea’s naval training ship ROKS Hansando brought U.S. and South Korean education leaders together, extending exchanges aimed at preparing sailors and future officers.
On Oct. 27, Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, head of the U.S. Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), met aboard Hansando with the academy’s superintendent, Vice Adm. Kyu-Paek Park, and Rear Adm. Joon Yup Kim, leader of the South Korean Navy’s cruise training task group. NETC said Huffman held a formal meeting with Park and Kim before attending a reception with South Korean officers, crew members and midshipmen.
Kookbang Daily, a publication of South Korea’s Defense Media Agency, reported that the task group was in Pensacola from Oct. 26-29. Its itinerary included visits to U.S. Navy units, an event that allowed visitors aboard the ship and friendly sports activities. Kookbang Daily described the stop as the first Pensacola visit in the history of South Korea’s cruise training; Yonhap reported that it was Hansando’s first-ever call at the base.
At the reception, Huffman said naval development extends beyond classroom instruction. “This development is not confined to a classroom; it is a career-long journey that is immeasurably strengthened when we learn alongside trusted allies,” he said.
The visit followed earlier exchanges between the commands. Vice Adm. Jeong Ho Kang, South Korea’s naval education and training commander, visited NETC in September 2025. In 2026, Huffman and NETC Force Master Chief Petty Officer Ben Hodges met Kang in Jinhae, South Korea, to discuss professional military education, force development and continued cooperation.
NETC described the partnership as a way to develop sailors through education and training with allies. Its account announced no new training program or follow-up meeting tied to the Pensacola visit.
