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Holding the First New Year's Kick-off Meeting in Busan
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Date
2026.01.29.
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Hit
5
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File
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) declared the start of the Busan era in earnest by holding its first New Year’s kick-off meeting in Busan at its headquarters at 10:00 AM on Monday, January 5.
This new year's kick-off ceremony is significant because it marks the start of sharing the vision for the Busan era and of actively implementing field-centered maritime and fisheries policies following the Ministry's relocation from the Sejong Government Complex to Busan at the end of last year.
Acting Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Seong-beom said in his New Year’s address, “This year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and is also the first year of a new beginning for a great leap forward in the maritime and fisheries industry.
He emphasized the active work and capacity building of all employees to △achieve a great leap forward in the southeastern region in preparation for the era of the Arctic Route, △strengthen the competitiveness of shipping and ports by incorporating eco-friendly and smart technologies, △innovate the traditional fishing industry, △foster the ocean and fishery industry to revitalize coastal regional economies, and △establish a culture of respect for life and secure global maritime leadership.
On the same day, the Acting Minister Kim also visited the General Situation Room on the 11th floor of the headquarters building at 5:00 PM and spoke on the phone with the head of the winter research team at the King Sejong Station in Antarctica, the captain of the HMM mega container ship Algeciras sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, the captain of the 46th battalion of the Cheonghae Unit Choi Young, and the head of the Dokdo Navigational Marks Management Office, to encourage maritime and fisheries workers working in remote areas at home and abroad.
Dear MOF Family,
The new year of 2026 is upon us.
This is the Year of the Red Horse, symbolized by the legendary Red Hare.
Since ancient times, horses been a symbol of forward progress, paving the path across fields and advancing without hesitation, even in the face of a crisis.
Wishing all members of the MOF family a year in which you achieve everything you desire, powered by the dynamic driving force of the "Jeoktoma" (Red-Haired Horse).
Last year, the MOF underwent significant changes.
First, following the launch of the "Popular Sovererignty Government," we relocated the Ministry's headquarters to Busan in step with the national strategy for balanced growth.
Furthermore, despite rapidly changing internal and external conditions, we achieved many meaningful outcomes.
We launched the Arctic Route Implementation Headquarters, involving ten ministries, to pioneer Arctic shipping routes and foster the Ocean Capital Region and established the legal foundation for companies and institutions to work together.
We commenced full-scale construction of the Busan Port Jinhae New Port and completed international route demonstrations of autonomous ships, laying the groundwork for enhancing eco-friendly, smart competitiveness.
Exports of gim (dried laver), Korea’s leading product, surpassed USD billion, setting an all-time record. Despite the longest period of high water temperatures on record last year, our proactive preventive measures reduced disaster damages by nearly 87% compared to 2024.
Additionally, by securing the hosting of the 4th UN Ocean Conference, the largest international event in the maritime field, we were able to elevate our nation's international prestige.
We should be proud of these achievements, as we silently and steadfastly fulfilled our roles on the front lines of policy, despite difficult circumstances.
I sincerely thank you for your hard work.
Dear MOF Family!
2026 holds special meaning for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
This is the 30th anniversary of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' launch and the first year of a new beginning for a great leap forward in the marine and fisheries industry.
To mark this meaningful year, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries intends to focus on the following five tasks:
First, we will realize a great leap forward in the southeastern region in preparation for the era of the Northern Sea Route.
We will carry out pilot sailings on the Arctic route from Busan to Rotterdam and promptly establish a strategy to foster the Ocean Capital Region.
Furthermore, we will create an ocean cluster that brings together companies, public institutions, maritime courts, and the Southeast Region Investment Corporation.
Additionally, we will develop Busan Port into the world's largest port and grow it into a global logistics hub by improving terminal operational efficiency and providing comprehensive port services.
Second, we will enhance shipping and port competitiveness by integrating eco-friendly and smart technologies.
To accelerate the transition to eco-friendly vessels, we will secure various investment sources and begin full-scale development of core technologies for fully autonomous ships.
To establish a supply system for eco-friendly fuels such as LNG and methanol, we will construct bunkering facilities and create a pilot smart port at Gwangyang Port to demonstrate Korea's smart port technologies and spread them nationwide.
Third, we will innovate the traditional fishing industry.
We will prepare a fisheries structural improvement plan to intensively reduce excessive fishing boat capacity relative to fishery resources while simultaneously replacing old vessels with larger, modernized ones.
Furthermore, we will adjust or abolish nearly half of all unnecessary regulations, such as easing restrictions on vessel size.
In aquaculture, we will discover new sites in colder, distant offshore waters and the East Sea, and advance smart, larger-scale aquaculture by establishing pioneering sites. ion and scaling of the industry by fostering leading smart aquaculture districts.
To further expand seafood exports, we will strengthen product competitiveness and diversify export markets.
Fourth, we will foster ocean and fisheries industries to revitalize coastal regional economies.
We will transform fishing villages into regional tourism resources by developing accommodation and experiential programs, and create regional maritime tourism hubs featuring marine leisure, healing, and ecological parks.
We will also proceed without delay in developing the three selected regions into complex marine leisure tourism cities spanning super-wide areas.
To support the expansion of offshore wind power, we will work with the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment to designate and announce first-phase preliminary zones and develop a benefit-sharing model involving fishers and fishery cooperatives.
Fifth, we will establish a life-respecting culture and secure maritime leadership.
To reduce maritime accidents, we will go beyond facility-centered safety management to address human error and mistakes, and implement thorough, tailored safety management for passenger ships, ports, fishing vessels, and ocean and fisheries business sites.
Regarding illegal Chinese fishing vessels, we will shift our response from expulsion to seizure and strengthen economic sanctions to establish our maritime sovereignty.
Lastly, to ensure the UN Ocean Conference runs smoothly, we will enact special legislation and promptly establish a pan-ministerial preparation team.
Beloved ocean and fisheries family!
Since its establishment in 1996, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has recorded many achievements, both large and small, built in the maritime and fisheries sector, which have laid the foundation for today's Ministry and for Korea as a maritime powerhouse.
The future for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries lies in domestically realizing the creation of an Ocean Capital Region in preparation for the Arctic Route era and, internationally, imprinting upon the world the image of the Republic of Korea as a maritime powerhouse.
There will be many tensions ahead in our voyage, but if our ocean and fisheries family joins forces as we have before, Korea will be able to stand tall as a maritime powerhouse.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will communicate more actively with all of you and do our utmost to realize a new great march.
In the Year of the Red Horse, I sincerely wish you an abundance of prosperity and good fortune, along with robust health and happiness, wherever you may be.
Thank you.
January 5, 2026
Kim Seong-beom, Acting Minister of Oceans and Fisheries
This new year's kick-off ceremony is significant because it marks the start of sharing the vision for the Busan era and of actively implementing field-centered maritime and fisheries policies following the Ministry's relocation from the Sejong Government Complex to Busan at the end of last year.
Acting Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Seong-beom said in his New Year’s address, “This year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and is also the first year of a new beginning for a great leap forward in the maritime and fisheries industry.
He emphasized the active work and capacity building of all employees to △achieve a great leap forward in the southeastern region in preparation for the era of the Arctic Route, △strengthen the competitiveness of shipping and ports by incorporating eco-friendly and smart technologies, △innovate the traditional fishing industry, △foster the ocean and fishery industry to revitalize coastal regional economies, and △establish a culture of respect for life and secure global maritime leadership.
On the same day, the Acting Minister Kim also visited the General Situation Room on the 11th floor of the headquarters building at 5:00 PM and spoke on the phone with the head of the winter research team at the King Sejong Station in Antarctica, the captain of the HMM mega container ship Algeciras sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, the captain of the 46th battalion of the Cheonghae Unit Choi Young, and the head of the Dokdo Navigational Marks Management Office, to encourage maritime and fisheries workers working in remote areas at home and abroad.
Dear MOF Family,
The new year of 2026 is upon us.
This is the Year of the Red Horse, symbolized by the legendary Red Hare.
Since ancient times, horses been a symbol of forward progress, paving the path across fields and advancing without hesitation, even in the face of a crisis.
Wishing all members of the MOF family a year in which you achieve everything you desire, powered by the dynamic driving force of the "Jeoktoma" (Red-Haired Horse).
Last year, the MOF underwent significant changes.
First, following the launch of the "Popular Sovererignty Government," we relocated the Ministry's headquarters to Busan in step with the national strategy for balanced growth.
Furthermore, despite rapidly changing internal and external conditions, we achieved many meaningful outcomes.
We launched the Arctic Route Implementation Headquarters, involving ten ministries, to pioneer Arctic shipping routes and foster the Ocean Capital Region and established the legal foundation for companies and institutions to work together.
We commenced full-scale construction of the Busan Port Jinhae New Port and completed international route demonstrations of autonomous ships, laying the groundwork for enhancing eco-friendly, smart competitiveness.
Exports of gim (dried laver), Korea’s leading product, surpassed USD billion, setting an all-time record. Despite the longest period of high water temperatures on record last year, our proactive preventive measures reduced disaster damages by nearly 87% compared to 2024.
Additionally, by securing the hosting of the 4th UN Ocean Conference, the largest international event in the maritime field, we were able to elevate our nation's international prestige.
We should be proud of these achievements, as we silently and steadfastly fulfilled our roles on the front lines of policy, despite difficult circumstances.
I sincerely thank you for your hard work.
Dear MOF Family!
2026 holds special meaning for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
This is the 30th anniversary of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' launch and the first year of a new beginning for a great leap forward in the marine and fisheries industry.
To mark this meaningful year, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries intends to focus on the following five tasks:
First, we will realize a great leap forward in the southeastern region in preparation for the era of the Northern Sea Route.
We will carry out pilot sailings on the Arctic route from Busan to Rotterdam and promptly establish a strategy to foster the Ocean Capital Region.
Furthermore, we will create an ocean cluster that brings together companies, public institutions, maritime courts, and the Southeast Region Investment Corporation.
Additionally, we will develop Busan Port into the world's largest port and grow it into a global logistics hub by improving terminal operational efficiency and providing comprehensive port services.
Second, we will enhance shipping and port competitiveness by integrating eco-friendly and smart technologies.
To accelerate the transition to eco-friendly vessels, we will secure various investment sources and begin full-scale development of core technologies for fully autonomous ships.
To establish a supply system for eco-friendly fuels such as LNG and methanol, we will construct bunkering facilities and create a pilot smart port at Gwangyang Port to demonstrate Korea's smart port technologies and spread them nationwide.
Third, we will innovate the traditional fishing industry.
We will prepare a fisheries structural improvement plan to intensively reduce excessive fishing boat capacity relative to fishery resources while simultaneously replacing old vessels with larger, modernized ones.
Furthermore, we will adjust or abolish nearly half of all unnecessary regulations, such as easing restrictions on vessel size.
In aquaculture, we will discover new sites in colder, distant offshore waters and the East Sea, and advance smart, larger-scale aquaculture by establishing pioneering sites. ion and scaling of the industry by fostering leading smart aquaculture districts.
To further expand seafood exports, we will strengthen product competitiveness and diversify export markets.
Fourth, we will foster ocean and fisheries industries to revitalize coastal regional economies.
We will transform fishing villages into regional tourism resources by developing accommodation and experiential programs, and create regional maritime tourism hubs featuring marine leisure, healing, and ecological parks.
We will also proceed without delay in developing the three selected regions into complex marine leisure tourism cities spanning super-wide areas.
To support the expansion of offshore wind power, we will work with the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment to designate and announce first-phase preliminary zones and develop a benefit-sharing model involving fishers and fishery cooperatives.
Fifth, we will establish a life-respecting culture and secure maritime leadership.
To reduce maritime accidents, we will go beyond facility-centered safety management to address human error and mistakes, and implement thorough, tailored safety management for passenger ships, ports, fishing vessels, and ocean and fisheries business sites.
Regarding illegal Chinese fishing vessels, we will shift our response from expulsion to seizure and strengthen economic sanctions to establish our maritime sovereignty.
Lastly, to ensure the UN Ocean Conference runs smoothly, we will enact special legislation and promptly establish a pan-ministerial preparation team.
Beloved ocean and fisheries family!
Since its establishment in 1996, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has recorded many achievements, both large and small, built in the maritime and fisheries sector, which have laid the foundation for today's Ministry and for Korea as a maritime powerhouse.
The future for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries lies in domestically realizing the creation of an Ocean Capital Region in preparation for the Arctic Route era and, internationally, imprinting upon the world the image of the Republic of Korea as a maritime powerhouse.
There will be many tensions ahead in our voyage, but if our ocean and fisheries family joins forces as we have before, Korea will be able to stand tall as a maritime powerhouse.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will communicate more actively with all of you and do our utmost to realize a new great march.
In the Year of the Red Horse, I sincerely wish you an abundance of prosperity and good fortune, along with robust health and happiness, wherever you may be.
Thank you.
January 5, 2026
Kim Seong-beom, Acting Minister of Oceans and Fisheries
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