According to local sources, Dongwon Group is reconsidering a bid to acquire HMM, South Korea’s largest shipping company.
Industry sources said the group has begun a study-level review of a possible acquisition. Honorary Chairman Kim Jae-cheol recently instructed management to examine the feasibility of a renewed bid.
Dongwon previously took part in the sale process for HMM last year. It reportedly offered about KRW 6.2 trillion. Harim Group outbid Dongwon by roughly KRW 200 billion and was selected as the preferred bidder.
The deal later collapsed in February. As a result, expectations are growing that a new sale process could emerge.
HMM has since returned to creditor management under the Korea Development Bank and the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC). However, the company is not formally on the market. Creditors have not indicated when a new sale process might begin.
Dongwon has reportedly formed an internal team to review financial data, assess deal structures, and run funding simulations.
A Dongwon Group official confirmed the company’s interest but stressed that no decision has been made. “We are only conducting a preliminary review,” the official said. “This is not a task force. It is a study group.”
