Vietnam - South Korea Seaport Cooperation: More Shipping Routes to Be Opened

After the war, South Korean economic growth was propelled by ports (making up 99.7 percent of imports and exports). South Korea currently has 60 ports, including 29 domestic ports and 31 international ports. Port of Pyeongtaek is an international port.

 

The Port of Pyeongtaek, 80 km southwest of Seoul, is one of the largest port complexes in the world, serving central Korea and Seoul area with more than 100 industrial complexes and over 30 million residents (60 percent of South Korea’s population). This is one of three national ports and the fifth largest port in South Korea.

 

Remarking on advantages of the Port of Pyeongtaek, Lee Kwang Soek from the Planning Division, the Pyeongtaek Regional Oceans and Fisheries Administration, said the Port of Pyeongtaek is near ports in China and Southeast Asia, thus facilitating trade in goods with countries in the region. Furthermore, the deepwater port is sheltered by a natural breakwater to mitigate natural disasters such as tsunamis. Even at low tide, cargo ships of 70,000 tonnes can still enter and exit the Port of Pyeongtaek which now has 62 berths and will reach 92 berths in 2030. Presently, the Port of Pyeongtaek is the largest automobile port, the fourth largest container port and the fifth largest out of 31 commercial ports in South Korea by cargo throughput volume. The port is now running 10 fixed container lines and five automobile routes.

 

Nguyen Hung, Head of Administrative Office at Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), said the Port of Pyeongtaek presently connects with only the Port of Haiphong in Vietnam, and hoped that the South Korean port would open more routes to Vietnamese ports. Simon Hong, Director of PR & Marketing Department at the Port of Pyeongtaek, said the Port of Pyeongtaek is planning to open some new international shipping routes, including those to Vietnam’s ports.

 

VCCI-HCM Deputy Director Nguyen The Hung hoped that seaport operators in Vietnam in general and in HCM City in particular will, through this workshop, seek out cooperation opportunities with the Port of Pyeongtaek to boost cargo exchange, thus helping elevate the trade ties between the two countries to a new high. He recommended the Port of Pyeongtaek to further introduce its potential, position and preference policies to ship owners and shippers in Vietnam. Last but not least, businesses of both sides need regular exchanges and meetings to share and learn seaport management and operation experience to develop maritime services in both countries.