Yeosu City, First Homeport International Cruise Operation at Yeosu Port a Success

"Establishing Itself as a Homeport...
Best Efforts to Attract More Cruises"

Yeosu City, South Jeolla Province (Mayor Chung Kimyung) announced on the 12th that the first homeport international cruise from Yeosu Port, the "Eastern Venus," has successfully completed its 2-day, 1-night itinerary to Tsushima Island.

The "Eastern Venus" is an international cruise ship measuring 183 meters in length, 12 stories high, and weighing 26,000 tons, capable of accommodating over 700 passengers. Carrying 265 tourists recruited from across the country, the ship departed Yeosu Port at 2 p.m. on the 8th, stopped at Hitakatsu Port on Tsushima Island, and returned to Yeosu at 9 a.m. on the 9th.

International cruise ship Eastern Venus. Provided by Yeosu City

The city reported that the cruise line procured onboard supplies and food ingredients worth approximately 80 million KRW through local businesses, which had a positive impact on the regional economy.

Unlike port calls, where cruises return after about eight hours of sightseeing, homeport operations induce various indirect spending such as accommodation, dining, shopping, and tourism, as passengers stay in the area before and after boarding.

In addition, with regular homeport operations, related businesses such as ship maintenance and refueling are expected to grow, potentially creating new jobs.

A city official stated, "Duwon Cruise Ferry Co., Ltd., which sells cruise packages, has added a second cruise in February departing from Yeosu Port and calling at Nagasaki (Fukuoka) and Kyushu (Sasebo) in Japan," and added, "We will do our best to attract more cruises so that Yeosu Port can establish itself as a homeport, not just a port of call."

Meanwhile, Yeosu Port is one of Korea's seven major ports of call. Since 2012, a total of 46 cruises have called at the port, and eight more international cruise calls are scheduled for this year.