South Korea handed over the decommissioned Pohang-class patrol corvette ROKS Suncheon (PCC-767) to the Peruvian Navy on January 5th, 2022. Before it was handed over to the Peruvian Navy, ROKS Suncheon underwent extensive upgrading of the hull, including mechanical, and electric repairs. Following the delivery, the ship began its journey towards the Port of Callao. At the same time, it carried out training and maneuver drills in the sea with the ROK Navy’s Pohang-class corvette ROKS Daecheon. South Korea has also donated Pohang-class corvettes to Egypt, Vietnam and the Philippines as it replaces the vessel class with newer and more capable frigates.
According to the ROK Embassy in Peru, the South Korean ambassador to Peru, H.E. Young-Joon Cho mentioned said,”Peru is a friendly state in South America where has market potential for exports from our defense industry, as the country is considering a military modernization project in its Army, Navy, and Air Force.”
ROKS Suncheon (PCC-767) was a Pohang-class corvette of the Republic of Korea Navy. (PCC) Suncheon, which had been in service since 1988, performed patrolling duties near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea as a part of the ROK Navy’s 2nd Fleet as of 1989 and was distinguished during the Battle of Daecheong in 2009, against North Korea. It was decommissioned and transferred to the Peruvian Navy as BAP Guise (CC-28). Suncheon was launched on 8 April 1987 by Hanjin Heavy Industries in Busan. The vessel was commissioned on 30 September 1988 and decommissioned on 24 December 2019.
The Pohang-class PCC (Patrol Combat Corvette) is the low-end complement of the high-low mix domestic naval construction plan of the Republic of Korea Navy under the 1st Yulgok Project (1974-1986) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. Since 1984, a total of 24 Pohang-class corvettes commissioned in the Republic of Korea Navy. The ship is designed for patrolling maritime border, including the Northern Limit Line, protecting the littoral zone, and combating the North Korean vessels. The decommission of the class started in 2009, and is being replaced with series of FFX program. As of 2022, 7 remain in service in the ROKN, and 7 were transferred to other navies.
