South Korea Aims to Develop Southeastern Region into Global Maritime Hub

SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- The oceans ministry is continuing efforts to develop South Korea's southeastern region into a global maritime hub in preparation for the envisioned expansion of Arctic shipping routes, Minister Hwang Jong-woo said Wednesday.

Hwang made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting, rounding up the progress made by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in the first year of President Lee Jae Myung's administration.

The ministry relocated to the southeastern port city of Busan from the central administrative city of Sejong in December under the government's push to transform Busan and the surrounding region into a global maritime hub.

Under the initiative, SK Shipping Co. and H-Line Shipping Co. relocated their headquarters to Busan, and HMM Co., the country's biggest shipping firm, has also decided to follow suit, Hwang said.

He added that an international maritime court is also scheduled to open its doors in Busan in 2028.

"With the possible establishment of a state-run corporation for investment in the southeastern region, the envisioned maritime capital equipped with administrative, judicial, corporate and financial infrastructure will serve as a new growth engine for South Korea," he stressed.

The minister also said South Korea's seafood exports hit a record high figure last year, mainly driven by the global popularity of dried seaweed products.

Seoul's exports of seafood products reached US$3.33 billion in 2025, up 9.7 percent from a year earlier.

The ministry has set an annual export target of $4.2 billion for seafood products this year.

South Korea's status in international maritime organizations has also been elevated, Hwang said, noting that South Korea is the host country for the United Nations Ocean Conference to be held in 2028.