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2026 Vol.32, Issue 1 Preview Page
Industrial Diversification of Korean Shipbuilding Companies into Offshore Wind
- Path Development through Asset Redeployment -

한국 조선기업의 해상풍력 산업 다각화
- 자산 재배치를 통한 경로 개발 -

고병옥

Ko, Byeung Ok

서울대학교 지리학과 BK 4-Plus 미래국토공간 혁신 교육연구단 연수연구원
Postdoctoral Fellow, BK 4-Plus Innovations for the Future Land Space, Department of Geography, Seoul National University
28 February 2026. pp. 106-135
PDF Citation
Abstract
This study examines how Korean shipbuilding and marine equipment companies diversify into the offshore wind industry to overcome the structural crisis in the shipbuilding sector. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of path development and regional asset redeployment from evolutionary economic geography, this research conducts a comparative analysis of three cases: SK Oceanplant, HSG Sungdong Shipbuilding, and the Gunsan Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Cooperative (GSMEC). The findings reveal that despite facing a common exogenous shock, these firms adopted distinct path development strategies depending on their asset convertibility and strategic agency. SK Oceanplant exemplifies “path diversification” by directly leveraging existing technology and infrastructure. HSG Sungdong Shipbuilding illustrates “path transformation” by overcoming organizational inertia through external partnerships and contingent events. GSMEC demonstrates “path creation” via collective action and the mobilization of policy resources. This study empirically verifies that path development is a dynamic process where asset specificity, mindful deviation, and contingency converge. Furthermore, the results suggest that industrial transition policies must be tailored based on firm-level asset diagnostics to effectively support the shift from declining industries to emerging sectors.
Keywords
offshore wind
shipbuilding industry
path development
asset redeployment
industrial diversification
본 연구는 조선업 위기에 직면한 국내 조선·해양기자재 기업들이 해상풍력 산업으로 다각화하는 과정을 진화경제지리학의 경로 개발론과 자산 재배치 관점에서 분석하였다. SK오션플랜트, HSG성동조선, 군산조선해양기술사업협동조합(GSMEC)의 사례 분석 결과, 세 기업은 공통된 외부 충격에도 불구하고 보유 자산의 전환가능성과 행위자의 전략적 대응에 따라 상이한 경로가 형성됨을 확인하였다. SK오션플랜트는 기존 자산의 직접 활용을 통해 ‘경로 다각화’를, HSG성동조선은 외부 자원 동원과 우연적 사건을 활용해 ‘경로 전환’을, GSMEC는 집합적 행위와 정책 자원으로 ‘경로 창출’을 이루어냈다. 본 연구는 경로 개발이 자산의 특수성, 행위자의 의도된 일탈, 우연성이 결합된 동태적 과정임을 실증하며, 향후 산업 전환 정책이 기업별 자산 진단에 기초한 맞춤형 지원으로 나아가야 함을 시사한다.
키워드
해상풍력
조선업
경로 개발
자산 재배치
산업 다각화
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Association of Regional Geographers
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지역지리학회
  • Journal Title :REGION AND GEOGRAPHY
  • Journal Title(Ko) :지역과 지리
  • Volume : 32
  • No :1
  • Pages :106-135
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.26863/JKARG.2026.2.32.1.106
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