Korea plans to launch regular Arctic shipping route to Europe by 2030: Ministry

Korea will work to open a regular shipping route connecting the country with Europe through the Arctic region by 2030 under a broader government initiative aimed at transforming the southeastern region into a global maritime hub, the oceans ministry said Tuesday.

The government has been pushing to develop the southeastern port city of Busan and the surrounding region into a global maritime hub with the anticipated expansion of Arctic shipping routes.

To this end, the government plans to conduct a pilot operation of a container vessel from Busan to Rotterdam in the Netherlands via the Arctic route in September, with a goal of starting regular operations of a Korea-Europe shipping route through the Arctic in 2030. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries unveiled the plan during a Cabinet meeting held earlier in the day.

Under the initiative, the ministry said it will work to transform Busan into a global maritime business hub, its neighboring city of Ulsan into an eco-friendly energy hub and the surrounding South Gyeongsang into a global supply chain hub with leading manufacturing and AI capacity.

"The oceans ministry will proactively respond to changes in the global logistics and environmental landscape, and make efforts to foster the southern region into Korea's maritime capital to help the country emerge as a leading global maritime power," Oceans Minister Hwang Jong-woo said.

Yonhap