The deal is subject to approval from antitrust regulators in multiple nations on concerns over monopoly issues. Industry watchers say rival nations like Japan and China as well as European clients may oppose the possible monopolistic move.

Some governments in Asia and Europe have already expressed negative views on the tie-up.

Japan’s Transport Ministry recently said, “The global order share will be over 20 percent when the two firms are merged,” adding that it would evaluate whether South Korea’s “monopoly position could distort competition.”

Andreas Mundt, president of Germany’s Federal Cartel Office, told Korean reporters on March 15, that a tie-up is “not a solution” to overcoming the crisis of companies from the market perspective, referring to the merger of the two shipbuilders.

Korea’s Fair Trade Commission chief Kim Sang-jo, meanwhile, visited three European nations -- Germany, Belgium and Serbia -- two weeks ago to meet competition officials. Industry watchers said his visit was to persuade European officials to approve the government-led deal, although on the surface it was to share knowledge and views on competition policies. 

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)