The transfer of HMM's headquarters to Busan was officially confirmed on the 8th. Following last month's labor-management agreement that set the direction for the headquarters transfer, even the articles of incorporation amendment passed, showing that the procedures for the transfer of HMM's headquarters to Busan are moving forward step by step.
HMM held an extraordinary shareholders meeting at its Yeouido headquarters in Seoul that day and passed an agenda item to change the headquarters location from Seoul to Busan in its articles of incorporation. HMM labor and management released on the 30th that they had agreed to the headquarters transfer to Busan to join the social cause of national balanced development and strengthening local autonomy. With the shareholders meeting passing the measure that day, HMM plans to complete procedures such as the transfer registration within May.
HMM will first move the CEO's office to Busan and then build a new headquarters building at Busan North Port to settle the organization there in stages. CEO Choi Won-hyuk of HMM said in remarks that day about the headquarters transfer to Busan, "As the flagship national carrier of our country, we are joining the social cause of national balanced development, and it is to achieve continued leaps forward in the future."
HMM's transfer to Busan was also a presidential campaign pledge of Lee Jae-myung. The government and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries pushed the plan, citing national balanced development and fostering the maritime industry.
HMM is concentrating its capabilities to respond to several pending issues, including the Namooho fire that occurred in the Strait of Hormuz.