Hwang Jong-woo Presents Vision of "Super-Gap Maritime Powerhouse and Irreplaceable Oceanic Nation" on 30th Anniversary of Oceans Ministry

Hwang Jong-woo, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, marked the 30th anniversary of the ministry’s founding by declaring, "We will set our course by our seas and our people, and pave new maritime routes." He presented a vision for the next 30 years, aiming for a "super-gap maritime powerhouse and an irreplaceable oceanic nation."

Hwang Jong-woo, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, is delivering a commemorative speech at the 30th anniversary ceremony of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on the 7th. Photo by Hwang, Minister's Facebook

On August 7, Minister Hwang hosted a commemorative ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, inviting former ministers and other dignitaries. On his social media, Minister Hwang posted an article titled "To the sea, to the world, to the future! Preparing for Korea’s next 30 years in maritime affairs." He reflected, "On August 8, 1996, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries embarked on its maiden voyage, and now we are celebrating our 30th anniversary. Looking back, the past 30 years have not always been smooth. There were times when the organization faced crises and even the pain of dissolution." He continued, "However, in such moments, we were able to turn crises into new opportunities with creative ideas, perseverance, and the patience to embrace change, no matter how slow. There was empathy and compassion for the difficulties faced on the ground, shared as if they were our own. There was unwavering determination and passion, with countless nights spent awake to achieve results for our seas. And there was profound affection and noble dedication to both the organization and the ocean."

Hwang Jongwoo, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, is cutting commemorative rice cakes with former ministers including Lee Joo-young, Kim Young-seok, and Kim Young-choon during the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' 30th anniversary ceremony on the 7th. Photo by Hwang, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries (Facebook).

Minister Hwang particularly compared the ministry’s 30th year to Confucius’s concept of ‘Irip’ (the age of maturity), stating, "From the experiences of the past 30 years, it is time to more clearly define why we exist and what we work for, and to move forward toward the seas of the world and the seas of the future." As guiding principles for the ministry’s new 30-year journey, he emphasized “our seas” and “our people.” Minister Hwang said, "Now that the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has turned thirty, the destination we must aim for is clear: our seas and our people." He added, "When people who share the same dream journey together, even new paths can be created." He expressed his determination to marshal the organization’s capabilities and open up new directions for ocean and fisheries policy.

Minister Hwang encapsulated the ministry’s new chapter with the phrase, “to the sea, to the world, to the future.” He affirmed, “We will continue our journey toward becoming a super-gap maritime powerhouse and an irreplaceable oceanic nation with strength and determination.”

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