Kim Sanghoon: "No Difficulty in Accepting Suggestions... The Challenge Is Speed"
Shipping Industry: "Maritime Industry Should Be Designated as an Essential National Industry"
On April 21, the People Power Party met with representatives from the shipping industry to discuss measures to strengthen the competitiveness of the maritime sector, including preventing a recurrence of logistics disruptions and expanding the national fleet.
Kim Sanghoon, Policy Committee Chair of the People Power Party, said at the 'People Power Party-Shipping Industry Policy Meeting' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that "risks and opportunities are intertwined." He stated, "There are signs that overall international trade volumes may decrease due to the Trump administration's trade tariff barriers. At the same time, the recent issue of the United States imposing port entry fees on Chinese shipping companies could present an opportunity for us."
Kim added, "I understand that you will be making suggestions from various fields today, and the Policy Committee has already asked the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to conduct a preliminary review. Including tax and financial support, both the ministry and our party have concluded that there should be no difficulty in accommodating the overall suggestions. The challenge is speed," he emphasized.
He continued, "When we held a meeting with the shipbuilding industry, there were also legislative matters, so we created a law through People Power Party lawmaker Song Eonseok, but it needs to be processed quickly and with a sense of urgency. The National Assembly will proceed at its own pace, and the government will also act swiftly in its own way," he promised.
Jeong Heeyong, People Power Party secretary of the National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, who arranged the meeting, said, "We will actively review and work quickly to resolve many issues, including preventing a recurrence of logistics disruptions, expanding the national fleet, supporting eco-friendly vessels, and securing energy. We will further enhance South Korea's competitiveness to ensure the sustainability of the shipping industry," he pledged.
The meeting was attended by Park Jeongseok, Chairman of the Korea Shipowners' Association; Jeong Taesoon, Chairman of Sinokor Merchant Marine; Lee Seungwoo, Chairman of KSS Line; Ahn Jungho, CEO of Pan Ocean; and Kim Seongik, CEO of SK Shipping, among others.
Chairman Park Jeongseok stated, "Recently, the Trump administration's tariff policies have created difficulties not only for the shipping industry but also for exporters. In order to respond to the International Maritime Organization's 2050 eco-friendly regulations, it is essential to expand ship financing through both policy and commercial financial institutions," he urged.
He added, "Recently, the United States has been discussing ways to expand its national fleet, which is built in U.S. shipyards and operated by American crews. Likewise, South Korea should recognize the maritime industry as a national strategic industry and designate Korean shipping as an essential national industry, as the United States does."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
