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K-Marine Powerhouse Central City Busan, Launch of the “Global Maritime Capital Busan Promotion Committee” and Announcement of Vision and Strategy

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that at 3:30 p.m. today (28th), it held the launch ceremony of the “Global Maritime Capital Busan Promotion Committee” (hereinafter “Promotion Committee”) at the Chamber Hall of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to propel Busan’s leap into becoming the central city of a global maritime powerhouse.

The Promotion Committee, established on August 20, officially launched today to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of the “Northeast Asia Maritime Capital Vision” and the 150th anniversary of the opening of Busan Port, while seizing opportunities presented by the inauguration of the new government and the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan.

The launch ceremony was attended by Mayor Park Heong-joon, City Council Chair Ahn Seong-min, Superintendent of Education Kim Seok-jun, Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chair Yang Jae-saeng, and other co-chairs, along with more than 90 institutions and organizations across industry, academia, research, civic, and government sectors participating in the Promotion Committee.

The ceremony began with a report on the history of “Maritime Capital Busan” and the background of the Promotion Committee’s launch, followed by ▲remarks from the co-chairs ▲Mayor Park’s presentation of the vision and strategy for “Global Maritime Hub City Busan” ▲the official proclamation of the Promotion Committee’s launch.

Adding symbolic meaning, youth representatives from the “Busan Youth Arctic Exploration Team” declared the launch of the Promotion Committee on behalf of the region’s innovation stakeholders in industry, academia, research, civic, and government sectors, signifying that Busan is preparing for a historic opportunity to rise as a “base city for the Arctic route” together with future generations.

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Busan Metropolitan City’s vision and strategy for “Global Maritime Hub City Busan,” announced today, aim for advancement into one of the world’s top five maritime cities (Global TOP 5). The core strategy is to establish four new strategic maritime hub zones centered on Busan’s five major ports.

Specifically, Busan will be structured into four key axes to complete a virtuous cycle as a global maritime hub: ▲the “Maritime Finance Axis” from Munhyeon to North Port ▲the “Maritime Headquarters (HQ) District Development Axis” from North Port to New Port ▲the “Maritime New Industry Development Axis” encompassing North Port, Uam, and Yeongdo ▲the “Maritime Science and Technology Axis” connecting Busan National University, Pukyong National University, and Korea Maritime and Ocean University.

To realize the vision of “From Busan, Korea’s New Growth Engine, Toward the Leap of Global Maritime Hub City Busan,” the City will focus on three strategic pillars and twelve key initiatives: ▲Space Innovation (SX) ▲Industrial Innovation (IX) ▲Talent Innovation (TX).

The first pillar, “Space Innovation (SX),” will redesign Busan as a global maritime hub. It will restructure growth hubs along the city’s coastline—including the five major ports of North Port, New Port, Gamcheon/Dadaepo Port, Yeongdo/Nam Port, and Uam/Gamman/Yongho Pier—and maximize development spillover effects through connections with inland hubs.

The second pillar, “Industrial Innovation (IX),” will spark a renaissance in the maritime industry. This includes intensively fostering sustainable high-tech industries such as power semiconductors and secondary batteries specialized for maritime applications, introducing eco-friendly technologies across shipbuilding and marine industries, supporting the smooth relocation of shipping companies’ headquarters such as HMM, and incorporating national tasks such as pioneering the Arctic route.

The third pillar, “Talent Innovation (TX),” will cultivate the innovative talent needed to lead the era of the Arctic route and digital transformation in maritime and fisheries. It will focus on nurturing top talent, while building a specialized academia-industry-research ecosystem centered on national hub universities in the maritime and fisheries sector.

To ensure sustainability of the policies announced today, the Promotion Committee will serve as a platform uniting regional maritime capacities, engaging more than 90 institutions across local industries, maritime academia-research clusters, maritime finance, universities, media, and civic groups. The Committee will identify leading agendas in new maritime industries and carry out diverse activities to secure momentum for major policy initiatives.

Mayor Park stated, “The challenges and history we have shared with the sea over the past 25 years are a record of growth achieved through the passion and hard work of all citizens. Today’s launch ceremony is a meaningful occasion to unite regional capabilities accumulated through continuous efforts for ‘Maritime Capital Busan,’ and to establish an organic collaboration system across industry, academia, research, civic, and government sectors for Busan to position itself as the central city of a global maritime powerhouse.”

He further emphasized, “Going forward, centered on the Promotion Committee, we will expand policy consensus throughout the local community, while ensuring that Korea’s new growth engine, beginning from Busan’s seas, drives growth in the Bu-Ul-Gyeong region and becomes the foundation for balanced national development.”