Yoon: "Leading the Overcoming of Marine and Fisheries Crisis... Fully Mobilizing Capabilities to Host Busan Expo"

27th Sea Day Commemoration Ceremony
President Yoon: "We Must Overcome Crises and Seize Opportunities for Economic Rebound with the Goal of Building a New Maritime Power"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized that the government will take the lead in overcoming the crisis facing the maritime and fisheries sector and called for the full mobilization of government capabilities to successfully host the 2030 Busan World Expo.

In his commemorative speech at the 27th Sea Day ceremony held at the Busan International Passenger Terminal Cruise Pier on the 31st, President Yoon stated, "Everyone must join forces to overcome the crisis under the goal of building a new maritime powerhouse and turn it into an opportunity for economic re-leap."

First, President Yoon expressed gratitude to maritime and fisheries workers, noting that Korea's growth into one of the world's top 10 economic powers was due to actively utilizing its three-sided seas through key national industries such as deep-sea fishing, shipping, shipbuilding, steel, and petroleum refining, as well as fisheries.

He added, "The rapid changes in the marine environment are presenting unprecedented crises and challenges to the maritime and fisheries sector. Recently, the fishing village population decline and aging have been progressing rapidly, and the depletion of fishery resources is leading to a decrease in fishery production. Competition for maritime hegemony among neighboring countries and international logistics competition are also intensifying. At such a time, everyone must unite to overcome the crisis under the goal of building a new maritime powerhouse and turn it into an opportunity for economic re-leap," urging collective effort.

To overcome the crisis in the maritime and fisheries sector, he emphasized the need to advance related infrastructure such as establishing a stable shipping logistics supply chain, transitioning to digital logistics through big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and automatic control technologies, eco-friendly autonomous ships, and smart automated ports. President Yoon promised, "The government will ease unnecessary regulations to promote active private investment in the smart shipping logistics industry and support the expansion of national shipping companies' transportation capacity and the securing of overseas logistics hubs such as ports and logistics centers to establish a stable logistics network."

He continued, "To create prosperous fishing villages where young people want to live, we will focus on improving the three major conditions of income, work, and housing, support young people's initial settlement in fishing villages, and create fishing villages where young people want to work through scientific fishery resource management and transition to eco-friendly smart aquaculture. Furthermore, through the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project, we will ensure that benefits such as medical care, welfare, and culture are sufficiently delivered to fishing villages," he pledged.

He also mentioned building a dynamic marine economy through investment in marine science and technology and future new industries. President Yoon said, "We must broaden our horizons beyond our territorial waters to greatly expand exploration and research activities in the oceans and polar regions to secure resources and information. We will actively support the development of related technologies and talent cultivation so that the potential of future new industries such as marine bio, marine energy, and marine leisure tourism can be fully realized. Additionally, we will establish a smart forecasting and warning system to ensure the safety of the people so that they can continue economic activities at sea with peace of mind," explaining related plans.

Moreover, he stated, "Lastly, for our future generations, we will firmly preserve maritime territory and the environment. We will also establish a scientific marine environmental management system to pass on clean seas to the next generation."

President Yoon particularly emphasized, "I will definitely keep my promise to make Busan, the maritime capital, a key hub for Korea's economic development. We will expand related infrastructure so that Busan Port can leap forward as a world-class mega port. We will fully mobilize government capabilities to successfully host the 2030 Busan World Expo. We will complete the first phase of the North Port redevelopment project, which will be used as the site for the 2030 World Expo, and promptly proceed with the second phase," he stressed.

The Sea Day ceremony held that day was President Yoon's first field visit to the maritime and fisheries sector since taking office. He personally awarded over 40 government honors, including the Gold Tower Industrial Medal, to workers who contributed to the development of shipping, fisheries, and marine science, followed by delivering his commemorative speech.

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