Minister Hwang Jong-woo of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on the 30th, "I am deeply grateful for labor and management's decision to agree to the transfer of HMM's headquarters to Busan."
Minister Hwang said this while attending the event "Announcement of HMM labor-management agreement opening the Busan era," held in the afternoon at Yeouido Kensington Hotel in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
Minister Hwang said, "I think this labor-management agreement is a symbolic and hopeful message for fostering a maritime metropolitan area in the southeastern region."
He then said, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) will continue to provide the utmost support so that HMM's transfer to Busan can proceed smoothly."
HMM labor and management have been negotiating on the transfer of the headquarters to Busan since the second half of last year. Facing difficulties in reaching an agreement, the union had warned of a strike, but an agreement was reached on this day.
It is known that labor and management made the decision in consideration of the significant social fallout, including paralysis of domestic and international logistics due to the Middle East war, if a strike were to take place.
Through this agreement, HMM plans to amend its articles of incorporation regarding the location of its headquarters at an extraordinary shareholders meeting scheduled for May 8 and then promptly complete legal procedures such as the transfer registration.