Korea aims to enhance maritime leadership at 2028 UN Ocean Conference

As a nation bordered by the sea on three sides, South Korea is emerging as a major maritime powerhouse on the global stage. With a robust shipping industry, state-of-the-art ports like Busan and Incheon boasting impressive cargo capacities, and a leading position in shipbuilding, South Korea is well-positioned to influence maritime policies worldwide.

In the coming months, the South Korean government is set to host significant events, including the Our Ocean Conference and the APEC Oceans-related Ministerial Meeting, aimed at showcasing the country's maritime achievements and charting its future policy directions. Furthermore, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is working diligently to enhance its leadership role in the maritime sector with plans to host the 2028 UN Ocean Conference.

The triennial UNOC has a tradition of being co-hosted by a developed and developing nation, with the upcoming third conference set to be jointly held by France and Costa Rica in June. South Korea has partnered with Chile in its bid for the 2028 fourth UNOC.

Despite these efforts, South Korea faces global challenges in its pursuit of sustainable maritime practices, particularly in the realm of green fuels, ships and logistics, especially following the tenure of US President Donald Trump.

In an exclusive interview with Oceans and Fisheries Minister Kang Do-hyung, The Korea Herald explores the ministry’s strategies and aspirations as the government seeks to strengthen its position within the global maritime community and address these challenges. Below are excerpts from our conversation conducted in his office in Seoul last week.

Q: What are the key points that make your bid to host the 4th UNOC appealing, and how do you assess your chances?

A: We are emphasizing the advantages of Korea's geopolitical location. Our nation, which is divided between South and North, was virtually an island and could only connect to the world through the ocean. According to a survey conducted last year, about 80 percent of South Koreans identify the nation as a maritime country, highlighting how closely the ocean is integrated into people’s lives.

We are also focusing on our achievements and experiences in the oceans and fisheries sector. South Korea has become the world’s sixth-largest country in terms of trade volume, with maritime transportation accounting for 99.7 percent of our imports and exports. Additionally, we are committed to expanding "green shipping" initiatives that utilize eco-friendly fuels and vessels to achieve maritime sustainability.

Another focal point is Korea's global maritime leadership, which will be showcased at the 10th Our Ocean Conference and the APEC Oceans-related Ministerial Meeting to be held in Korea this year. As the only country in the world with experience in leveraging the ocean as both a developing and a developed nation, we will emphasize South Korea's unique position in the global maritime landscape.

Finally, few countries have a government ministry like ours that conducts integrated administration of maritime and fisheries affairs, encompassing marine resources, fisheries, shipping, ports and various maritime matters.

Since last year’s UN General Assembly in New York, an increasing number of countries have expressed their support for South Korea’s bid to host the 2028 UNOC, which is very encouraging. We believe our chances of winning the bid are quite high.

Q: What would be the impact if South Korea successfully bids for and hosts the 4th UNOC in 2028? What economic value do we expect to generate for our country?

A: The UNOC is a gathering of 193 UN member states that come together to discuss agendas and seek international cooperation on all matters related to the ocean. It is the largest and highest-level international conference on oceans, expected to draw over 10,000 participants from around the world.

Hosting the UNOC, particularly with more than 50 heads of state and representatives from international organizations in attendance, will significantly elevate South Korea’s global status. This platform will enable our nation to play a key role in fostering international cooperation on critical issues such as the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, sea-level rise, marine plastic pollution and marine biodiversity.

Hosting the UNOC is also expected to create a new economic model emphasizing sustainable utilization of the ocean through advancements in Korea's shipbuilding, shipping, fisheries and maritime digital and technological innovations.

In addition to these intangible benefits, a recent analysis estimates that the expected consumption generated by approximately 15,000 visitors for the UN event will likely amount to 55.6 billion won, further enhancing the local economy.

Q: In April, Korea will host the 10th Our Ocean Conference. What is the OOC, what is its significance, and what role will Korea play?

A: The Our Ocean Conference, often referred to as the "Davos Forum of the ocean sector," was initiated in 2014 in the United States. The OOC has become a vital forum for leaders from governments, international organizations, businesses and civil society from over 100 countries to discuss global ocean issues.

As the host country, South Korea has adopted the slogan “Our Ocean, Our Action” to inspire the international community to take concrete steps toward a sustainable ocean.

For this conference, we plan to propose “Ocean Digital,” which aims to explore new solutions for ocean challenges through the use of digital technologies as a special agenda item.

Alongside the main conference, there will be over 80 side events and various special functions, including a Youth Summit for future generations and a Business Summit for industry leaders.

Since this is the 10th conference, we are preparing a special anniversary session to review the implementation of the 2,600 pledges made during previous conferences and to share success stories. We believe this will be a meaningful occasion that reflects on the achievements and limitations of the international community over the past decade, while also providing direction for the next 10 years.

Finally, we will announce a comprehensive package of commitments that address the entire OOC agenda. This pledge will include leading initiatives such as eco-friendly shipping, a fishing gear deposit system, maritime official development assistance, advancements in science and technology, and international cooperation projects. Through these commitments, we aim to demonstrate Korea's dedication to the international community.

We also acknowledge concerns regarding the successful execution of the OOC in light of recent domestic situations. We assure you that we regard the OOC as a "nationally important event," and we are committed to ensuring the security and safety of all involved at a pan-governmental level.

Q: The Trump administration took office last month. How will it affect maritime logistics, and how is our government preparing for the changing international trade environment?

A: The inauguration of the Trump administration has introduced uncertainty into maritime logistics, impacting supply chains. In the short term, we may see a temporary rise in container freight rates due to volume pushback in anticipation of imminent tariff increases. However, long-term forecasts suggest a potential decline in freight rates as global shipping volumes decrease.

In response to these challenges, our ministry plans to expand and reorganize its crisis response fund to protect shipping companies. Additionally, the government will enhance logistics support for import and export activities, utilize temporary vessels and establish a robust global logistics network by securing public-private logistics centers in emerging export areas to mitigate supply chain risks.

Q: The new US administration is expected to influence shipping decarbonization regulations and green shipping lanes. What is your ministry doing to prepare for this?

A: President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. While this withdrawal may not have a significant immediate impact on the International Maritime Organization's decarbonization regulations, it could affect discussions surrounding a carbon tax.

Our ministry plans to navigate these discussions in alignment with our national interests. However, there are concerns that the promotion of fossil fuels by the US could impact green shipping corridors. To ensure the progress of the Korea-US Green Shipping Corridor, our government will prioritize collaboration. On Feb. 10, South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding with Australia to develop green shipping routes and aims to extend this cooperation to other key maritime hubs, including Singapore and Denmark.

Q: What is needed to strengthen Korea's position as a global maritime powerhouse?

A: To solidify its role as a pivotal global player in the maritime sector, Korea must actively address pressing global maritime issues. In response to climate change, Korea is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by certifying initiatives of new blue carbon, which refers to the carbon absorbed by the marine ecosystem, including sediment and plants inhabiting the coasts, and promoting eco-friendly shipping practices.

Additionally, Korea should take a leadership role in international maritime consultations, ensuring they serve as effective platforms for cooperation among nations to tackle global maritime challenges. To this end, Korea plans to resume the APEC Oceans-related Ministerial Meeting, which has been on hold since 2014. This meeting will provide a venue for collaboration among Pacific economies and will coincide with hosting the 10th OOC, reinforcing our leadership in discussions and cooperation on global maritime issues.

Korea is also stepping up its responsibility by expanding support to coastal and island states vulnerable to climate change. We aim to more than double our official development assistance to Pacific Island countries from approximately $15 million to $37.7 million by 2027. This support will focus on helping these nations address the climate crisis, including enhancing climate forecasting systems tailored to their unique needs.

Q: Can you tell us about Korea’s rising exports of seafood products, including “gim” or seaweed?

A: In 2024, Korea achieved a remarkable milestone, with seafood exports reaching $990 million, breaking the record for seaweed gim exports and marking two consecutive years of achieving 1 trillion won in overall seafood exports.

In addition to tuna, which consistently generates over $500 million annually, we anticipate that oysters, abalone, halibut and fish cakes — cultivated in Korea’s pristine waters — will emerge as the next generation of export success stories.

To further boost seaweed gim exports, we will focus on stabilizing the production of wet seaweed gim and enhancing the distribution and processing of dried seaweed gim to ensure sufficient export volumes.

Our strategy to expand markets includes developing promising export products, strengthening support for obtaining international certifications, and facilitating buyer fairs and consultations. Moreover, we will invest in expanding refrigeration and cold chain transportation networks to ensure a stable supply and demand for high-potential seafood items.

(shinyb@heraldcorp.com)