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Meeting of the “Busan Arctic Route Development Task Force (TF)” Held… Busan Metropolitan City Fully Committed to Proactive Response in the Era of Arctic Shipping Routes

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it held the second meeting of the “Busan Arctic Route Development Task Force (TF),” which has been formed and operated since last year as part of the City’s proactive response to the forthcoming era of commercial Arctic shipping routes.

The meeting took place yesterday (July 22) at 4:00 PM in Small Conference Room (2) on the 12th floor of City Hall.

This meeting was convened to provide consultation and discuss the direction of the research project currently underway, titled “Establishing Busan as a Hub City for Arctic Shipping Routes.” The project aims to develop effective policies and establish a mid-to-long-term comprehensive plan centered on Busan, in preparation for the commercial use of Arctic shipping routes.

This research project was initiated following recommendations during the first TF meeting in February, where participants emphasized the urgency of developing a strategy for establishing Busan as a hub city for the Arctic route. In response, the City allocated KRW 200 million in the first supplementary budget of 2025 to launch the project.

The meeting was attended by 21 TF members, consisting of experts from shipping companies, academia, research institutes, public institutions, and relevant organizations. The participants shared the project’s direction and key implementation plans, and engaged in open discussions to provide practical advice and policy recommendations.

The TF, led by the Deputy Mayor for Future Innovation, shares domestic and international trends and research results by sector. It also hears various perspectives from shipping companies with experience navigating Arctic routes, aiming to specify future action plans and develop strategic policies to prepare for the Arctic shipping era.

At the meeting, Professor Jeong Seong-mun from Dong-A University’s Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation, which was selected as the project’s implementing agency, presented on the project overview, execution plans and methods, and the structure of cooperation.

Key elements of the project include analysis of internal and external environments and conditions for Busan as a base city for Arctic routes, cargo volume demand forecasting for Busan Port, development of policy directions and strategic tasks, and formulation of mid-to-long-term development plans.

Meanwhile, as expectations grow for the commercialization of Arctic shipping routes—bolstered by presidential pledges—Busan Metropolitan City continues to make proposals to the central government. These include: development of core infrastructure such as an eco-friendly integrated energy terminal at Busan Port, training of Arctic route specialists, and establishment of an Arctic Route Committee and an Arctic Route Promotion Agency to serve as control towers for the Arctic route.

Seong Hee-yeop, Deputy Mayor for Future Innovation, stated, “The Arctic route is gaining attention as a new strategic route amid climate change and the reorganization of global supply chains. This presents Busan with an opportunity to emerge as a leading city in new growth sectors such as marine industries, global logistics, and climate data technologies.”
He added, “Through the TF meetings, we will identify feasible policy tasks and, in connection with the research project, establish concrete strategies to expand Busan’s future maritime economic territory.”