Minister Hwang Jong-woo of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on the 25th, "I think it is natural for work in the shipbuilding and offshore plant sector to be attached to us (the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF))." He was saying there is a need to transfer the work of promoting the shipbuilding and marine industry, currently handled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
The Minister said at an inaugural press briefing held at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press room in Busan that "the paradigm in the shipbuilding and shipping sector is shifting with a focus on decarbonization and artificial intelligence (AI), and the forum where this is discussed internationally is the International Maritime Organization (IMO)," and stated accordingly.
The Minister added, "To respond well and in a timely manner to (global trends), my personal view is that it might be better to move toward an integrated management system."
However, he said, "At the national level, discussions on cooperation with the United States in the shipbuilding sector are also underway, and there are existing efforts, so it may not be easy to send it to one side right away," adding, "This is not something that can be decided easily. I hope the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF)'s related functions will continue to be strengthened so the ministry's capabilities stand out."
Regarding why he cited the fisheries sector as the top policy priority in his inaugural address, he said, "This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). And I am the very first employee who joined right after the ministry was established," adding, "Looking back on 30 years, the most regrettable issue is the 70% decline in fishing household population."
He said, "If we (the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF)) had done well, it wouldn't have declined that much—that was my first thought," adding, "While I may not be able to immediately increase the (fishing household) numbers during my tenure, I thought we should lay the groundwork for them to grow again, so I put that first in my inaugural address."
On the transfer of HMM to Busan, he said, "HMM is the world's No. 8 and Korea's top carrier," adding, "If HMM comes down to Busan, it would send a hopeful message about a true maritime capital."
The Minister, however, emphasized "corporations' autonomous judgment." He said, "HMM is a private company. It is not appropriate for us to tell it to come or go," adding, "Management should decide, and as labor and management are at the stage of bargaining under the right to demand negotiations, I hope they will reach a good agreement and the result will be as we hope."
He thinks that "if necessary in the process, presenting government-level support could help with the negotiations."
On the idea of the Minister directly contacting and persuading the HMM union, he drew a line, saying it was "not appropriate." Minister Hwang said, "If I suddenly jump in, wouldn't they say the government intervened?" adding, "I don't think this is a stage where I can move."
He added, "We have no choice but to watch a bit longer and wait for their judgment," and "there will be much internal review, and if they come, we welcome it, but it should be a voluntary decision."
Regarding the Middle East situation, he stressed the need for active and proactive responses by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). Referring to the "120% response" mentioned in his inaugural address, he said, "If what we have to do is 100, it means we should work even harder than that," adding, "We should not just do the tasks we must do, but work even harder."
The Minister explained, "If issues such as crew disembarkation and evacuation arise, we should actively take care of them and support them so they can evacuate safely," adding, "The same goes for safety issues. While we are recommending that existing vessels refrain from operating, carriers may say 'we have to go.' If it is dangerous, we should persuade them further and respond with sincerity."
He also said that the messages he most wanted to convey to Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) staff through his inaugural address were "procedure" and "principle." Minister Hwang said, "When implementing the government's governing philosophy, procedure and principle are as important as speed. They must be observed," adding, "Sometimes, policies work well only when we wait a bit and exercise patience." He added, "Can the government move forward alone without integration, coordination, and trust?"