On the evening of August 22nd, a Korean container ship will set sail, traveling from the Arctic to Europe. This is the first time Korea has carried out commercial voyages along this route.
Reuters states that this move is aimed at testing feasibility and transforming the Busan Port in South Korea into a global maritime hub. However, this has raised concerns among the West.
According to reports, the ship named ‘PanStar Acro’ will navigate northward, following the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia, crossing the Bering Sea along the northern sea route. It will pass through the UK, the Netherlands, and Poland, before returning. The estimated voyage duration is 40 to 45 days.
South Korean President Li Zemin has made Arctic shipping a priority for South Korea. South Korean officials say this will help transform Busan, and they are striving to make the Arctic an established trade route by 2030.
South Korean officials estimate that the Arctic route could shorten travel time from Korea to Europe by 35%.
However, Reuters mentioned that the project could cause friction with Western allies, as Western countries wish to isolate Russia. Previously, Seoul had discussions with Moscow regarding this voyage, including whether the ship would need assistance to overcome problems such as being trapped in ice.
According to a Norwegian logistics center, last year, 88 ships made 103 trips via the Arctic route. This number is higher than the 97 trips in 2024 and the 43 trips in 2022. The ships mainly came from countries such as Russia and China.
Scientists say that the melting of Arctic ice makes it easier to travel across the northern regions.
