President Lee Jae-myung welcomed the first trial voyage through the Arctic shipping route on the 13th, saying he would "guard against premature optimism and prepare for the era of the Arctic route with a long-term perspective."
Lee made the remarks in congratulatory comments at a ceremony in Busan welcoming the return of the Pan Star Arc, which completed a round-trip trial voyage along the Arctic route. He first said, "Together with the people, I sincerely welcome all of you who fulfilled your duties — finding the way in the wheelhouse and protecting the ship's heart in the engine room — even under the pressure of having to make countless judgments while watching drifting ice and the Arctic seas that change by the moment."
He went on to say that "opening a shipping route is not a matter of drawing a single line on a map," explaining that it means "verifying on site the conditions under which ships can pass, earning the trust of shippers who entrust their goods, and accumulating the data and experience that seafarers can rely on." He added, "Through the recent tensions in Middle Eastern waters, we are experiencing firsthand how much the South Korean economy is shaken when existing sea lanes are blocked," and said, "The newly opened Arctic route will become another sea lane to lean on in times of crisis, another option, another lifeline."
Lee presented three directions for preparing for the era of the Arctic route: earning the trust of the international community, laying the foundation for sustainable maritime transport, and investing in safety and environmental technology. On earning international trust, Lee said, "We will thoroughly abide by international norms and the sanctions principles of the international community," adding, "We will communicate fully with major partner countries and responsibly address concerns related to navigation." He also said, "We will work to ensure that the new route does not remain the exclusive benefit of any particular country but leads to the common prosperity of humanity."
He continued, "We will steadily accumulate navigation experience and build the foundation for sustainable maritime transport," saying, "We will steadily raise South Korea's operational capabilities, including navigation costs, safety, punctuality and seafarers' experience." He then pledged, "We will work to provide information support and to establish financial and institutional foundations so that a wide range of shipping companies, shippers and logistics firms can participate."
On safety and environmental technology, he said, "We will protect the Arctic seas and their ecosystems, and also respect the lives of those who depend on those seas," proposing to "expand investment in Arctic research, extending to eco-friendly ship technology, the transition to low-carbon fuels, sea-ice forecasting and navigation support, and the training of polar specialists."
He also stressed that "we must open up the future of Busan and the southeastern region as they prepare for the era of the Arctic route." Lee said, "We will connect Busan's ports, logistics and maritime finance, Ulsan's shipbuilding and eco-friendly energy, and South Gyeongsang Province's shipbuilding equipment and advanced manufacturing," adding, "From shipbuilding and repair to fuel supply, workforce training, finance and insurance, we will ensure that companies grow in the region and that the results lead to good local jobs."
He also said, "As it happens, the Busan era of HMM, the country's largest shipping company, began in earnest yesterday," adding, "I hope our shipping companies will lead market changes in Busan, the city where sea lanes converge, and grow even larger on the world stage."