"Let's Build the Status of a Maritime Capital"... Busan Chamber of Commerce Hosts Meeting with Minister Jeon Jae-su of Oceans and Fisheries

Minister Jeon Jae-su of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries visited the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to meet with local business leaders and discuss the vision of Busan as a maritime capital following the ministry's relocation.

The Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, chaired by Yang Jae-saeng, announced that it held a meeting with local business leaders and invited Minister Jeon Jae-su of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries at 11:30 a.m. on the 18th in the chamber hall.

This event marked Minister Jeon's first official meeting with Busan's business community since taking office. It was attended by Kim Hyejeong, Director of the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, Lee Hyun, Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Chairman Yang Jae-saeng, as well as over 60 participants including chamber executives and assembly members.

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jae-su is shaking hands with Yang Jae-saeng, chairman of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during a visit to the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the 18th.

During the meeting, key issues to strengthen Busan's status as a maritime capital were discussed, along with the challenges faced by local businesses amid global economic uncertainty. The chamber presented four major issues: strengthening the functions of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, pioneering the Arctic shipping route, establishing a maritime specialized court, and relocating the HMM headquarters to Busan.

The Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry emphasized that since the ministry's relocation is included as a national agenda item for this year, Busan needs to expand its functions, pioneer the Arctic shipping route, and attract the main office of the maritime court to fully function as a maritime capital. The chamber also stated that the headquarters of HMM, in which the government holds more than a 70% stake, should be moved to Busan. Some business leaders argued that, since the sale of HMM is underway, the relocation of its headquarters should be included as a condition of the sale.

Regarding business challenges, participants noted that Busan's officially assessed land value has recently risen well above the national average, increasing the burden on small and medium-sized ship repair companies. They requested the establishment of a legal system to reduce public water use fees. Additional suggestions included extending 24-hour repair reporting and approval for ships entering Busan Port, and extending the 50% reduction in duty-free shop rental fees at the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal until July 2027.

Chairman Yang Jae-saeng stated, "The Busan economy is shaking off the shadow of stagnation and is being assigned a new role as a global maritime capital. We ask for active support to ensure the smooth implementation of the ministry's relocation, the establishment of a forward base for the Arctic shipping route, and the relocation of the HMM headquarters."

Minister Jeon Jae-su responded, "If the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan is completed this year, next year will mark the inaugural year of Busan as a maritime capital. We will do our utmost to achieve greater results by focusing on key policy tasks in preparation for the era of the Arctic shipping route."