1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Secretariat of the Arctic Economic Council (AEC), held a seminar on cooperation under the theme “Challenges of Arctic Maritime Transportation and the Need for Connectivity” in Seoul on December 11, becoming the first non-Arctic country to do so.

o The seminar was attended by key officials from Arctic countries, including Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials (SAO) of the Arctic Council Aleksi Harkonen, Vice Chair of the AEC Robert Gudfinnsson, and Chair of the AEC’s Maritime Transport Working Group Mikko Niini, as well as Korean businessmen, including Vice Chairman of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Kwon Oh-ik and Vice Chairman of the Korea Shipowners' Association Kim Young-moo. Among participants from the Foreign Ministry were Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Yun Kang-hyeon and Director-General for Global Economic Affairs Hong Young-ki.

2. In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Yun said that the ROK is pursuing Arctic cooperation to jointly respond to the crisis in the Arctic caused by climate change and to actively utilize new business opportunities presented by the thawing Arctic. He also said that the seminar is expected to contribute to promoting cooperation in Arctic routes, harbor and shipbuilding, which are among areas where the “9-Bridges” strategy is being pursued as part of the New Northern Policy.

※ 9-Bridges of cooperation: Arctic routes, harbor, shipbuilding, gas, fisheries, railway, electricity, agriculture and jobs

3. At the seminar, participants discussed ways to utilize Arctic routes and increase economic cooperation in the private sector to enhance connectivity in the Arctic. More specifically, they engaged in in-depth discussions on how Arctic routes are being utilized, and Arctic maritime transport’s potential and challenges; trends in technological development to enhance connectivity in the Arctic; and ways for the ROK and the AEC to work together.

o Participants said that Arctic maritime transport has great potential for growth, but pointed out that in order to facilitate maritime transport along Arctic routes, it is essential to expand infrastructure in the areas of harbor, shipbuilding and communication, and economic cooperation in the private sector is needed to do so.

- In particular, participants from the ROK shared their experiences and opinions regarding challenges that need to be overcome to commercialize Arctic maritime transport, including environmental pollution and severe climatic conditions in the Arctic, and introduced the ROK’s technologies related to e-navigation and the Prompt Port Facility.

o Furthermore, panelists and participants agreed that cooperation between the ROK and the AEC will contribute to the Arctic’s sustainable economic development, and exchanged views on ways to strengthen cooperation between the two sides, including bilateral projects that will be pursued and the establishment of a channel for discussions on cooperation projects.

4. On the sidelines of the seminar, the Korea Shipowners' Association joined the Arctic Economic Council, becoming the first organization in non-Arctic countries to do so. This is expected to help Korean companies build their presence in Arctic business.

o The Korea Shipowners' Association represents the interests of the ROK’s ocean shipping industry. Since it was established in 1960, 171 Korean ocean shipping companies have joined the association.


* unofficial translation