The Korea Shipowners' Association said on the 22nd that it has named Kim Joon-seok, an advisor to the corporate group at law firm YK, as its next standing vice chairman.
The association reached the decision after a final interview round for applicants to the post at a meeting of its leadership on the 21st.
Kim graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in political science and passed the 36th higher civil service examination. He served as director general of the shipping and logistics bureau and as head of the fisheries policy office at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. After leaving the ministry in 2022, he headed the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, and he currently advises companies as a member of the corporate group at YK.
During his time at the ministry, Kim helped rebuild the shipping industry by leading efforts to secure liquidity for Hyundai Merchant Marine, now HMM (011200), to manage the court receivership of STX Pan Ocean, and to establish Korea Marine Guarantee Insurance, the predecessor of the Korea Ocean Business Corporation. He also made a significant contribution to overcoming the crisis in the shipping and logistics industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also developed a number of new programs to support the shipping industry, including expanding corporate tax breaks for shippers that use Korean-flagged carriers and providing subsidies to shipping companies that build replacement vessels for aging ships.
Kim is scheduled to take office formally after receiving final approval at the 2027 regular general meeting in January. His term runs for three years.