Hwang Jong-woo, nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, pledged to develop the southeastern region into a maritime capital in preparation for the Arctic shipping route era while dispelling concerns about policy bias toward Busan. He also emphasized plans to strengthen the shipping industry's competitiveness by supporting national carriers' adoption of eco-friendly vessels and building green fuel supply infrastructure.
At his confirmation hearing before the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee on the 23rd, Hwang said in his opening remarks, "The situation facing the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is truly grave." He added, "The need to restructure existing energy supply chains has grown further amid an uncertain environment surrounding the shipping logistics industry, along with securing the safety of our sailors and vessels due to Middle East conflicts and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz."
He continued, "The fisheries industry faces existential threats from climate change and the depopulation of fishing villages," and presented key policies to lay the foundation for a great leap forward in oceans and fisheries if appointed minister.
Hwang stated, "By integrating administrative, judicial, and financial functions and combining enterprises, talent, and capital, we will strengthen the competitiveness of the maritime and fisheries industry and create a successful model for balanced national development, enabling the southeastern region to truly emerge as a maritime capital."
He also outlined plans to accumulate data and experience needed for commercial operations through trial runs on the Arctic shipping route starting this year. In step with the activation of the Arctic route, he plans to develop Jinhae New Port into the world's largest container port and a cutting-edge smart port.
Hwang said, "In the shipping and port sector, we will support national carriers' adoption of eco-friendly vessels and build green fuel supply infrastructure to strengthen industrial competitiveness through decarbonization." He added, "We will also begin full-scale development of core technologies for fully autonomous ships starting this year."
He expressed his resolve to further solidify maritime sovereignty. "We will shift our response principle for illegal fishing from expulsion to seizure and significantly raise fines," he said. "We will establish a comprehensive illegal fishing surveillance system using satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles, while strengthening maritime territorial management activities for Dokdo, uninhabited islands serving as territorial sea reference points, and structures in the West Sea."
Regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Hwang explained, "We will monitor the situation around the clock and respond meticulously while maintaining close communication with shipping companies and vessels to ensure the safety of our sailors and ships as the top priority."
On concerns that the ministry's relocation to Busan could lead to Busan-centric maritime and fisheries policies, he said, "If I am inaugurated as minister, I will visit maritime and fisheries sites across the country more often, meet with people more frequently, and listen more deeply to dispel such concerns."
