Minister Mun Sung-hyuk, a Marine and Port Specialist with Expertise and Field Experience

Longest-Serving Minister of Oceans and Fisheries
From Hanjin Shipping Bankruptcy to Logistics Crisis
Achieved Results Overcoming Adverse Conditions

Minister Moon Sung-hyuk of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is giving an interview at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Government Sejong Complex, on the 25th of last month. / Sejong - Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] "Captain of the training ship at Korea Maritime and Ocean University, chief officer of Hyundai Merchant Marine, first Korean professor at the World Maritime University in Sweden, longest-serving Minister of Oceans and Fisheries..."

These are the titles attributed to Minister Moon Seong-hyeok of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Appointed in April 2019 and now in his 31st month in office, Minister Moon is regarded as the top expert in maritime and port fields, possessing both theoretical expertise and practical experience. At the time of his appointment, he attracted attention with impressive titles such as the first Korean professor at the World Maritime University and 10 years of seafaring experience, but the situation before him was challenging. The shipping industry had not yet recovered from the aftermath of the Hanjin Shipping bankruptcy, and throughout his tenure, a state of 'wartime' persisted due to the export-import logistics crisis following the COVID-19 outbreak and Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean.

However, Minister Moon is evaluated to have delivered results beyond expectations through his high expertise in maritime and port sectors and rational leadership. Key indicators such as the capacity of deep-sea container ships have recovered to pre-Hanjin Shipping bankruptcy levels, and amid the global logistics crisis, the deployment of temporary vessels by national shipping companies has played a strong supporting role for export companies, showing visible achievements in shipping reconstruction. He is also recognized for achievements in the fisheries sector, such as the successful implementation of the 'Fishing Village New Deal 300' project, which improves living conditions in underdeveloped fishing villages.

Minister Moon graduated from the Department of Navigation at Korea Maritime and Ocean University, obtained a first-class navigator license, and sailed for 10 years. Afterwards, he served as a professor at Korea Maritime University and from 2008 to 2019 taught students from over 50 countries as a professor at the World Maritime University. The World Maritime University, established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency, grants its professors quasi-diplomatic status.

Minister Moon Seong-hyeok

▲ Born in 1958 in Busan ▲ Seoul Daesin High School ▲ Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Department of Navigation ▲ Master’s in Navigation, Korea Maritime and Ocean University ▲ PhD in Port Economics, Cardiff University, UK ▲ Chief Officer at Hyundai Merchant Marine ▲ Professor, Department of Maritime Transportation Science, Korea Maritime and Ocean University ▲ Professor, World Maritime University