On November 5, the NEAR Secretariat attended the Arctic Shipping Route Hub Port Forum, held at the National Library of the Republic of Korea in Seoul, hosted by Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Pohang City. 

This forum was co-hosted by Gyeongsangbuk-do, Pohang City, and the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, aiming to discuss the role of Pohang’s Yeongilman Port in the commercialization of the Arctic Shipping Route and its sustainability as a logistics hub port in the East Sea Rim. The forum was held in response to the accelerated Arctic sea ice melting due to global warming, which is expected to increase traffic in the Arctic Ocean.

The forum was attended by around 100 dignitaries, including the members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Opening remarks were delivered by Kim Jeong-jae. Welcome remarks were given by Jeong Hui-yong, and congratulatory remarks were given by Lee Sang-hui, Kim Ki-hyun, Jo Kyung-tae, Yoon Jae-ok, Lee In-sun, Lee Man-hee, Lee Dal-hee, and Kwon Young-jin. 

Next, President Ha Young-seok of the Korea Shipping and Port Academic Association gave a presentation on "Tasks of Pohang Yeongilman Port in the Arctic Shipping Route Era." Kim Min-su, Director of the Economic Strategy Research Division at KMI, presented on "The Sustainable Arctic Shipping Route Era: Current Status and Outlook," while Park Sun-yul, Associate Researcher at the Gyeongbuk Research Institute, discussed "Ways to Revitalize the Arctic Shipping Route in Connection with Pohang Yeongilman Port." The panel discussion, moderated by Honorary Professor Kim In-hyun at Korea University, followed, focusing on the current status of Yeongilman Port and future strategies in preparation for the Arctic Shipping Route Era.

The participants explored the feasibility of the Arctic Shipping Route and agreed on the need for proactive measures to develop Yeongilman Port into a central port in the global logistics network.

Relevant news and source : Yonhap News Agency (Click)