Youngsan University's Arctic Logistics Research Institute is spearheading the development of a future strategy for Yeosu-Gwangyang Port aimed at the Arctic shipping route era. As the government's push to open Arctic routes accelerates competition among domestic ports to secure an early foothold in Arctic logistics, the fact that a regional university research institute has been entrusted with the core policy design role is drawing attention.
The Arctic Logistics Research Institute at Youngsan University announced Tuesday that it has been selected as the final research organization for the "Strategy for Yeosu-Gwangyang Port's Response to the Arctic Route Era" project commissioned by the Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority.
The study aims to reorganize the logistics competitiveness and port functions of Yeosu-Gwangyang Port at a time when the prospects for opening Arctic Ocean shipping lanes are growing. The Arctic route is regarded as a next-generation maritime logistics corridor that can significantly shorten sailing distances between Asia and Europe, but Russia currently leads actual route operations, making geopolitical variables a major consideration.
Drawing on 16 years of accumulated Arctic route research data, the institute plans to analyze Russia's route development policies and shifts in logistics flows. It will particularly focus on identifying tangible business opportunities for Yeosu-Gwangyang Port within the global supply chain structure reshaped after the war in Ukraine.
The core research area is an economic feasibility analysis of the Arctic route centered on liquid cargo and steel products. The institute will review the transport potential of LNG, petrochemical products, and steel cargo, while also assessing the competitiveness of port service infrastructure such as eco-friendly fuel bunkering and ship repair functions. The plan is to present a comprehensive Arctic route response model that includes specialized strategies differentiating the port from others.
In particular, the research team led by Professor Hong Sung-won has built cooperative networks with Russia's Arctic route operator Rosatom and Norway's Centre for High North Logistics (CHNL), raising expectations that an internationally coordinated strategy can be developed.
The Arctic Logistics Research Institute at Youngsan University has recently won successive research contracts from organizations including the Korea Polar Research Institute and the Gyeongnam Institute, and is currently carrying out three Arctic route projects simultaneously. Industry observers say the institute has secured the most specialized research capabilities in the Arctic logistics field among Korean universities.
"Last year, Yamal LNG carriers that passed through the Arctic route called at Yeosu Port's outer harbor 24 times, meaning Yeosu-Gwangyang Port has already been accumulating experience in Arctic route services," Professor Hong said. "We will present a differentiated strategy based on our integrated port infrastructure capable of handling LNG, oil, iron ore, and containers all together."
