President Lee Vows Leap Toward Maritime Power Envisioned by YS... Shipping and Ports to Be Fostered as National Strategic Industries (Comprehensive)

President Lee Delivers Speech at Sea Day Ceremony
"Establishing a Shipping Supply Chain Under Our Full Control"
"Launching the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Era in Busan and Expediting Maritime Court Establishment"
"Making Busan Korea's Undisputed Marine Capital"

On May 27, President Lee Jae-myung declared, "The sea is no longer just a space for logistics and industry; it has become the very front line that determines our nation's survival and future," announcing plans to foster the shipping and port industry as a national strategic sector. As part of this initiative, he unveiled plans to accelerate the establishment of a global shipping supply chain that Korea can fully control, and to connect the southeastern region, including Busan, into a new economic zone called the 'Southern Marine Capital Area.'

President Lee Jae-myung is delivering a commemorative speech at the 31st Sea Day Ceremony held in Yeongdo-gu, Busan on May 27, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

During his commemorative speech at the 31st Sea Day Ceremony held in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, President Lee stated, "In this era of uncertainty, when global trade order and supply chains are being restructured, the safety and dominance of the sea, the lifeblood of the world economy, have become more important than ever."

The ceremony was held under the slogan, "From Busan to the World, From the Sea to the Future." More than 400 people attended, including the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, officials from the Navy and Coast Guard, representatives from the maritime and fisheries industries and organizations, Korea Maritime and Ocean University students, and maritime sector workers. Sea Day was designated as a national holiday in 1996 to raise public awareness of the value and importance of the sea and to promote the pride of maritime professionals. This year marks the 31st anniversary.

President Lee first highlighted the significance of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' establishment during the Kim Young-sam administration and expressed his determination to elevate Korea into a leading maritime nation. He said, "The launch of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 1996 under President Kim Young-sam was a clear demonstration of the strong will to make Korea a maritime powerhouse. Thirty years later, the sea has become the front line determining our nation's survival and future. We will accelerate Korea's dynamic leap toward becoming the maritime powerhouse envisioned by President Kim."

He then presented the government's vision for rebuilding the shipping supply chain. President Lee stated, "We will accelerate the recovery of the global shipping supply chain, which has stalled in recent years, and establish a supply chain that we can fully control." He continued, "We will build an ecosystem for the mutual growth of shipping and shipbuilding, comprehensively foster related industries such as marine insurance, vessel financing, and maritime legal services, and thereby strengthen the fundamentals of our shipping industry."

President Lee also identified nurturing young maritime talent as a key priority. Prior to the ceremony, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-gyeong attended a homecoming ceremony at Korea Maritime and Ocean University to encourage trainees who had completed their navigation training. President Lee remarked, "It is the youth who will open the newest future by crossing the oldest sea routes—they are the future of the shipping industry and the main players in the era of the Arctic route. By uniting the pioneering spirit of veteran shipping professionals with the passion of young maritime talent, we will provide every possible support so that the Korean shipping industry can lead the world's seas."

President Lee also introduced the concept of the 'Southern Marine Capital Area' centered on Busan and the southeastern region. "We will realize the vision of a true maritime powerhouse right here in Busan and the southeastern region," he said. "As Korea's proud Southern Marine Capital Area, the southeastern region will develop higher, farther, and stronger." President Lee emphasized that nurturing the Southern Marine Capital Area is not just a regional development project, but "a survival strategy for Korea to prevail in fierce global competition, and a balanced growth strategy that directly connects the vision of a maritime powerhouse to jobs and regional vitality."

President Lee Jae-myung presents a bouquet to a marine university trainee reporting their return at the 31st Sea Day ceremony held in Yeongdo-gu, Busan on May 27, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

As part of the Southern Marine Capital Area initiative, the government will also expand infrastructure to develop the southeastern region into a marine economic zone. President Lee said, "We will expand logistics infrastructure by connecting ports, airports, railways, and roads, and create a marine tourism belt along the entire southern coast, thereby nurturing a marine economic zone that can compete confidently on the global stage."

He also mentioned plans to develop a Busan marine cluster. President Lee stated, "We will usher in a full-fledged era of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in Busan," adding, "We will swiftly complete a marine cluster in Busan that brings together shipping companies, relevant public institutions, the soon-to-be-established maritime court (now that the relevant legislation is complete), and, once parliamentary discussions conclude, the southeastern region investment corporation." President Lee concluded, "We will develop Busan into Korea's undisputed marine capital and the southeastern region into the Southern Marine Capital Area, achieving balanced national development. I believe that all maritime professionals nationwide and the citizens of the southeastern region will join us on this path toward a true maritime powerhouse."

The event began with the national pledge, followed by a themed video, a reading of the Sea Charter, a congratulatory video supporting Busan as the marine capital, a public presentation of the Southern Marine Capital Area development roadmap, a commemorative performance, awards for distinguished contributors, commemorative speeches, and an industry-academic cooperation agreement ceremony for fostering future shipping talent. President Lee personally presented awards to five recipients, including the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, in recognition of their contributions to the development of the maritime and fisheries industry, and expressed his gratitude for their service.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.