President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday emphasized that "to elevate the southeastern region into a world-class maritime economic zone, the additional relocation of public institutions and companies, which has long been under review, must be swiftly pursued."
President Lee made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting and emergency economic review meeting held at the Blue House, noting that "following the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the relocation of HMM has also been confirmed." The president said, "With rapid changes in the international order and accelerating supply chain restructuring, securing global maritime leadership has become a more important task than ever," adding that "the southeastern region, with its excellent manufacturing ecosystem, logistics infrastructure, and solid hinterland, has sufficient potential to grow into a world-class maritime economic zone."
He continued, "In particular, as competition for maritime leadership in Northeast Asia intensifies going forward, the geopolitical value of the southeastern region will shine even brighter," and proposed that "to this end, strategic investment in the southeastern region must be steadily continued." Citing the need for additional relocation of public institutions and companies beyond the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and HMM, President Lee emphasized that "tasks such as establishing a Southeastern Region Investment Corporation, expanding port and aviation infrastructure, and strengthening the maritime industry base must also be completed."
He added, "We will do our best to ensure that the southeastern region is reborn as the center of the southern maritime metropolitan area and serves as an icebreaker pioneering the future of balanced national development and a maritime power."
