LS GreenLink Commences Development of Advanced Manufacturing and Port Facility in Chesapeake, Virginia

CHESAPEAKE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 29, 2025--

LS GreenLink USA, Inc. ("LS GreenLink"), a subsidiary of LS Cable & System Ltd. (“LS Cable & System”), today officially commenced construction on its state-of-the-art manufacturing and port facility in Chesapeake, Virginia. This significant project represents a major advancement in bolstering global energy infrastructure, with the initial phase representing an investment exceeding $681 million and the creation of more than 330 new jobs in the region.

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The initial phase of the development will encompass a 750,000 sq. ft. advanced manufacturing plant, a 660-foot VCV (Vertical Continuous Vulcanization) tower, and a dedicated pier, all designed to enhance the production, handling, and global delivery of HVDC (high-voltage direct current) submarine cables critical to modern energy infrastructure. The 660-foot VCV tower is projected to be the tallest structure in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the tallest structure between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Charlotte, North Carolina, underscoring the facility’s significant contribution to the regional skyline.

Bon-Kyu Koo, President & CEO of LS Cable & System, said, “This groundbreaking marks a monumental step forward for LS Cable & System in fulfilling our global vision for energy infrastructure. By investing in cutting-edge manufacturing facilities like the one in Chesapeake, Virginia, we not only strengthen our competitive position in the global market but also play a crucial role in providing innovative solutions to meet the world’s growing energy demands. The success of this project will enhance our global footprint and contribute significantly to the advancement of sustainable energy systems worldwide.”

Gisu Kim, Regional President of North America at LS Cable & System, emphasized the significance of the new facility, stating, “The development of this advanced manufacturing facility highlights LS Cable & System’s continued commitment to the United States. This project not only strengthens our global production capabilities but also contributes directly to local economic growth and the advancement of the region’s energy infrastructure. We are proud to support the communities where we operate and look forward to the positive impact this facility will have across the broader energy sector.”

“This groundbreaking event represents far more than the launch of a construction project - it marks the start of a long-term investment in innovation, sustainability, and energy resilience,” said Patrick Y. Shim, Managing Director of LS GreenLink USA, Inc. “With this facility, LS GreenLink is laying the foundation for leadership in advanced manufacturing while reinforcing the global energy infrastructure that powers industries and communities worldwide.”

Virginia GovernorGlenn Youngkin remarked, “The commencement of this facility in Chesapeake is a proud moment for Virginia. This investment strengthens our leadership in innovation, energy, and manufacturing while creating hundreds of new jobs. LS GreenLink’s commitment to developing advanced energy infrastructure here exemplifies the innovative and impactful growth we are seeing across the Commonwealth.”

U.S. Senator Mark Warner stated, “I’ve been proud to support this project, and am thrilled to finally celebrate the groundbreaking of this manufacturing and port facility. This investment by LS GreenLink will be tremendous for Chesapeake, and for Virginia as a whole, bringing high-quality, good-paying jobs to the region while continuing the Commonwealth’s leadership in energy investment and infrastructure.”

“I’m thrilled to be breaking ground with LS GreenLink on its Hampton Roads cable manufacturing and pier facility, and I’m proud that this project was facilitated by tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act that I fought to pass,” said U.S. Senator Kaine. “This facility will create hundreds of high-quality, good-paying jobs, boost the region’s economy, and affirm Virginia’s global status as a clean energy hub.”

U.S. Representative Bobby Scott shared, “I am proud to welcome LS GreenLink to Virginia’s Third Congressional District. Hampton Roads is a leader in offshore wind production and this subsea cable facility is an important piece of the domestic offshore wind supply chain. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, LS GreenLink is utilizing tax credits for projects that expand clean energy. The manufacturing tax credits, which I spearheaded with my colleagues, are bringing high-paying jobs to our local economy and I look forward to seeing the completed facility.”

“This groundbreaking ceremony represents not just a significant investment in the City of Chesapeake but also for the Hampton Roads community,” said Chesapeake City Mayor Rick West. “This investment represents a huge step for the region’s clean energy and offshore wind industries. LS GreenLink’s decision to locate in Chesapeake proves the City’s and region’s commitment to clean, renewable energy. We look forward to future investment from LS and a continued partnership with South Korea.”

Doug Smith, President & CEO of Hampton Roads Alliance, commented, “The Hampton Roads region has long been recognized for its strong maritime and manufacturing capabilities. This significant investment from LS GreenLink in Virginia not only enhances our regional economy but further establishes Hampton Roads as a hub for innovation and advanced manufacturing in the energy sector. We are excited to support LS GreenLink in this endeavor.”

Finally, David White, Executive Director of Virginia Maritime Association, added, “The development of this advanced manufacturing facility in Chesapeake aligns with the strategic growth of Virginia’s maritime industry. This project will provide critical infrastructure for the global energy supply chain while creating high-quality jobs in the region. We are proud to be part of this exciting development and look forward to its future success.”

The initial phase is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2027, with the facility fully operational by the first quarter of 2028. Subsequent phases of the project are planned, allowing LS GreenLink to expand its production capacity and technological capabilities in response to evolving global infrastructure requirements.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together executives from LS GreenLink, elected officials, industry partners, and local community leaders, all of whom expressed their support for the project’s positive economic and strategic impact on the region.

About LS Cable & System Ltd.

Founded in 1962, LS Cable & System Ltd. is a global leader in power and communication cables and systems. With over 6,500 employees and 35 subsidiaries in 17 countries, LS Cable & System continues to drive innovation in energy transmission and distribution. For more information, visit www.lscns.com.

Senator Tim Kaine, U.S. Senator

Mayor Rick West, City of Chesapeake (right) with Bon-Kyu Koo, President & CEO, LS Cable & System Ltd. (center) and Patrick Y. Shim, Managing Director, LS GreenLink USA, Inc. (left)

Governor Glenn Youngkin (right) with Bon-Kyu Koo, President & CEO, LS Cable & System Ltd. (center) and Patrick Y. Shim, Managing Director, LS GreenLink USA, Inc. (left)

(From left to right) David White, Executive Director, Virginia Maritime Association; Patrick Y. Shim, Managing Director, LS GreenLink USA, Inc.; Doug Smith, President & CEO, Hampton Roads Alliance; Rick West, Mayor, City of Chesapeake; Bon-Kyu Koo, President & CEO, LS Cable & System Ltd.; Glenn Youngkin, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia; Juan Pablo Segura, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Commonwealth of Virginia; Gunnar Spengel, Project Director, TenneT TSO GmbH; Gisu Kim, Regional President of North America, LS Cable & System Ltd.; Christopher Price, City Manager, City of Chesapeake

NEW YORK (AP) — Min Jin Lee's first novel since her million-selling “Pachinko” is a long book that grew out of a basic question: What do Koreans care most about?

“We’re obsessed with education, and it became my obsession over why Koreans care so much,” says Lee, whose “American Hagwon,” scheduled for Sept. 29, will likely be one of the year's most anticipated books. Hagwons are for-profit tutoring centers — sometimes likened to “cram schools” — where Koreans of all ages receive instruction for everything from English to guitar to cooking. Any language school or organization that gives private lesson music classes” can be considered a Hagwon, Lee says.

The author, 57, calls herself an “accidental historian,” a novelist who uses broad narratives to unearth the past, make sense of the present and explore race, gender and class among other issues. “American Hagwon” is the third of a planned quartet about Korea and the Korean diaspora that began with “Free Food for Millionaires” in 2007 and continued a decade later with “Pachinko,” a National Book Award finalist that was adapted by Apple TV+ into a series and has been translated into dozens of languages.

In 2024, The New York Times ranked “Pachinko” at No. 15 among the best novels of the 21st century.

Cardinal, a Hachette Book Group imprint, is calling her new release a deep look into “what happens when the rules shift, the world order becomes suddenly unrecognizable and benchmarks of success are no longer a guarantee.” In “American Hagwon,” Lee sets her story everywhere from Korea to Australia to Southern California as she tracks the journey of a middle-class Korean family upended by the Asian financial crisis and hoping to regain its bearings.

“Almost 10 years after Pachinko, Min Jin Lee continues to give shape to history’s seismic shifts in her fiction, refracting generational change through indelible, masterfully etched characters you can’t help rooting for,” Cardinal Publisher and Senior Vice President Reagan Arthur said in a statement.

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“I want to hold up a mirror to society, and, as the kids say, do a ’vibe check,” she says.

FILE - Min Jin Lee attends the GQ Global Creativity Awards in New York on April 6, 2023. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)