A Special Voyage Created by Ship Finance: KOBC and Panstar Carry the Dreams of Youths

Social Contribution Aligned with KOBC’s Core Business
Maritime Career Exploration for 24 Young Participants

Interior view of the fanstar cruise ship's bridge, revealed to the teenagers participating in the "Sea Route to Dreams with KOBC-Fanstars" program on the 6th. Photo by Na-Hoom Kang

"It was my first time boarding a ship, and it was amazing to be able to step inside the bridge. As I listened to the captain's explanation, I became curious about the different kinds of work people do on a ship."

Inside the cruise ferry bound for Osaka, Japan, departing from Busan Port. In front of the youths, an unfamiliar scene unfolded as they entered the bridge, a space usually closed off to regular passengers. They examined various equipment and control panels that operate the vessel, and listened to the captain and navigators talk about what it’s like working at sea. What started as a simple overseas trip for four nights and five days quickly became a time for them to envision their own futures.

The Korea Ocean Business Corporation connected its main business of ship finance to career exploration for young people. Together with Panstar, the corporation ran the 'Sea Route Toward Dreams with KOBC and Panstar' program from September 6 to 10, inviting 24 youths from child care facilities in Busan, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk to visit Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe in Japan. The purpose was to give youths with limited overseas experience due to economic factors the opportunity to directly experience new cultures and the maritime industry.

The Panstar Miracle, the vessel used by the youths traveling between Busan and Osaka, is a ferry operating with financial support from the corporation. In this way, assets created through ship finance were repurposed into an experiential space for youths. The total project cost was 35 million won, and instead of a separate burden, Panstar opened up normally restricted areas such as the bridge and the engine room to the participating youths.

The participants observed how ships actually operate from the engine room and bridge. Captains and navigators explained not only their daily work and working environment but also the skills needed for careers in maritime fields. This allowed the youths to see “the maritime industry” as a world of occupations, not just something learned about through books or videos. After the program, more than 90% of the participants responded in a survey that their interest in maritime careers had increased.

Teenagers participating in the 'Sea Road to Dreams with KOBC and Panstar' program conducted by the Korea Ocean Business Corporation are visiting the Kobe Maritime Museum in Japan. A total of 24 youths from child care facilities in Busan, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk participated in this program, spending time exploring maritime careers and experiencing history and culture. Korea Ocean Business Corporation.

The itinerary after disembarking was not limited to just sightseeing. At the Kobe Maritime Museum, the group learned about the history of ships and the maritime industry, while the visit to the Kobe Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution offered hands-on disaster safety training, such as experiencing an earthquake scenario. They also visited Mimizuka (Ear Mound) and the site of the Imprisonment Prison where Yun Bong-gil was held, revisiting the history of the Imjin War and the Korean independence movement.

The program also included opportunities for the youths to try things for themselves in a foreign city. Armed with workbooks, the participants completed different tasks at each site, such as finding local restaurants as a group, ordering food, and paying the bill themselves. On the final day, they opened their completed workbooks and shared their impressions with each other. For some, this was their first experience abroad, while for others, it was the first time they imagined a future career related to the sea.

The organization’s decision to structure the program around overseas experience was influenced by its identity—centered on “the sea.” Instead of taking a plane to the destination, the group crossed borders by cruise ferry to offer hands-on experience with the shipping industry. Rather than simple sightseeing, the program combined ship and maritime career exploration, safety education, and history trips, so that the youths could see and make judgments for themselves in a new environment.

This was the second run of the 'Sea Route Toward Dreams' program. The first edition focused on youths from child care facilities in Busan, but this time, the target was expanded to include Busan, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk. Whether to continue with additional programs will be reviewed based on overall satisfaction, educational outcomes, and safety management from this round.

An Byung-gil, President of the Korea Ocean Business Corporation, said, "I hope this was a time for the youths to broaden their horizons by directly experiencing the ocean, ships, a variety of professions, and cultures that they do not usually encounter. We will continue to share the value of the shipping and maritime industry with the next generation through social contribution activities that reflect the characteristics of our work."

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