Busan is good

A New Era of Korea Begins at Sea—Busan to Lead as a Global Maritime Hub

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it held the 22nd Busan Future Innovation Conference today (June 18) at 10:00 a.m. at the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) in Yeongdo, with Mayor Park presiding.

The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology is one of the institutions comprising the DongSam Innovation District Marine Cluster, along with the Korea Maritime Institute, the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency, and the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service—relocated during the first phase of public institution relocations.

This conference was convened to present the vision and strategies for advancing as a “Global Maritime Hub City” and to discuss, with experts from the public, private, and academic sectors, specific measures for realizing the grand design of becoming one of the top five maritime cities in the world.

Participants included Mayor Park; Professor Kim In-hyun from Korea University Law School; Executive Director Kang Joong-kyu of Hanwha Ocean; President Lee Hyung-chul of the Korean Register; President Kim Yong-min of the Busan Bar Association; President Kim Young-deuk of the Busan Port Industry Association; as well as heads of related institutions such as the Korea Maritime Institute, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan Port Authority, Korea Ocean Business Corporation, Busan Institute, Busan Technopark, and the Busan Institute of Science and Technology for Higher Education Advancement.

The conference proceeded in the following order: opening remarks by Mayor Park; keynote presentation on “The Status and Outlook of Busan as a Maritime Capital” by Kim Min-soo, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Korea Maritime Institute; case presentation on “Eco-Friendly Icebreaking Vessel Development Achievements and Technical Strategy” by Executive Director Kang Joong-kyu of Hanwha Ocean; a policy presentation on the “Vision and Strategy for Advancing Busan as a Global Maritime Hub City” by the City of Busan; followed by attendee discussions and a Q&A session.

The vision and strategy presented by the City of Busan under the theme “A New Republic of Korea Begins at Sea—Advancing Busan as a Global Maritime Hub City” consists of three major strategies and nine core initiatives.

Strategy 1: Securing Maritime Initiative and Establishing a Core Global Maritime City

This strategy aims to build a Tri-Ocean Service City centered on maritime public-private cooperation (governance).

Key initiatives include:

• 1.[Maritime Sovereignty] Relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and associated public maritime institutions to Busan

• 2.[Legal and Institutional] Establishment of a maritime specialized court in Busan

• 3.[Industrial Agglomeration] Relocation of K-Shipping companies to Busan

Detailed actions include:
• Developing a maritime complex in the North Port area, incorporating maritime administration, finance, and specialized advanced industries
• Attracting major shipping companies to the Uam Marine Industry Cluster and designating the area as a special shipping and port industry zone
• Converting the research capacity of the DongSam Innovation District in Yeongdo into industrial capability, with the goal of building a comprehensive Tri-Ocean Service City

Strategy 2: Becoming a Leading Nation in the Digital Maritime Economy

Key initiatives include:
4. [Leading Policies] Expanding leadership in emerging maritime industries
5. [Super-Gap Technology] Implementing AI transformation (AX) in the maritime industry
6. [Talent Development] Fostering talent proficient in AI

Specific measures include:
• Implementing a grand design to identify forward-looking and tangible projects that will lead the global maritime industry
• Promoting AI transformation (AX) in the marine sector, including a B-Ocean data special zone, AI-based smart aquaculture, and smart ports
• Fostering creative and convergent talent by integrating maritime with advanced technologies such as AI and big data, aiming to drive innovation across the economy and industry

Busan, with its strong maritime domain, will proactively pursue initiatives that only the city can undertake.

Strategy 3: Leading the Emerging Trend of the Blue Economy

Key initiatives include:
7. [Hub Creation] Establishing hub ports for Arctic and green shipping routes
8. [Resource Utilization] Realizing the Blue Economy
9. [Networking] Expanding global public-private maritime governance

Planned actions include:
• Developing hub ports for Arctic and green shipping routes centered on Busan Port
• Establishing “Eco Blue Marine Busan” as a national marine ecological park
• Promoting a harmonious balance of development and conservation through expanded ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ecosystems related to blue carbon, and designating special export zones for K-Blue Food
• Leading K-Global maritime leadership by successfully hosting the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in 2025 (first in Asia), and attracting the 2026 PNLG (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) Local Government Forum
• Establishing the International Hydrographic Organization Infrastructure Center in Busan, aiming to become a global hub for maritime data standards and technology

Mayor Park emphasized, “Busan’s maritime industry has long driven the regional economy, and the sea is both the foundation of our citizens’ lives and the city’s historical legacy. Since the beginning of the 8th popularly elected administration, we have taken the lead in advancing policies to shape a new future from the sea.”

He further stated, “We welcome the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to strengthen Busan’s maritime core functions. By serving as a testbed for cutting-edge maritime technologies and spearheading a transition to a sustainable maritime economic paradigm, Busan will become a stepping stone for Korea to rise as one of the world’s top five maritime powers.”

He concluded, “We will powerfully move forward toward becoming a global maritime hub city—a place so livable that people would choose to be born here again—by linking the ‘value of the ocean’ with our citizens’ daily lives, economy, environment, and culture.”