Busan Port Delegation visits Tromsø as South Korea Eyes Arctic Shipping Routes

A delegation, led by Busan Port Authority President and CEO Sang-keun Song, travelled to the northern Norwegian port of Tromsø to study Arctic maritime operations and explore potential cooperation ahead of a planned trial container ship voyage along the Northern Sea Route later this year.

The visit reflects a broader strategic push by South Korea to position itself – and in particular Busan – as a key gateway for cargo transiting between Asia and Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR), which runs along Russia’s Arctic coastline.

“The purpose of the visit was to gain increased insight into operations in Arctic waters, as well as to become better acquainted with the Port of Tromsø’s capacities and role in connection with possible future commercial traffic along the Northern Sea Route,” the Port of Tromsø said in a statement following the meeting.

Interest in Arctic shipping has gained traction in South Korea in recent years, driven by the potential for significantly shorter transit times between East Asia and Europe compared with traditional routes via the Suez Canal.

The issue featured prominently in the country’s 2025 presidential election, with the eventual winner, Lee Jae-myung, pledging to strengthen South Korea’s role in Arctic logistics and develop Busan into a primary entry point for cargo exiting the NSR.

South Korea as Arctic hub

Those ambitions form part of a broader effort to revitalize South Korea’s southern regions, including the Busan port area, through infrastructure investment and maritime industry development. In a symbolic move, the government also relocated the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to the southern city.

South Korea plans to conduct trial container shipping voyages through Arctic waters this summer, testing the commercial viability of the route. The country’s shipyards – among the world’s leading builders of ice-class vessels – are expected to play a central role in enabling such operations.

During their visit, the Busan delegation also examined Tromsø’s approach to reducing emissions in maritime transport, including initiatives related to alternative fuels and shore-side power solutions, according to the Norwegian port.

Despite rising interest from Asian economies, Arctic shipping remains commercially uncertain. The Port of Tromsø cautioned that a stable, large-scale transport corridor via the NSR is still years away, citing unpredictable sea ice conditions and the geopolitical fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Years into the future

Port officials noted that, under current conditions, traffic along the route is likely to grow only gradually, with Russia and China expected to remain the dominant users for the foreseeable future. 

Center for High North Logistiic (CNHL) CEO Kjell Storvik expects Russia and China to be the main users of the transit route as long as the geopolitical situation remains as it is today, the Tromsø port detailed.

The Busan visit is partly aimed at strengthening ties with Norwegian stakeholders ahead of this summer’s trial voyage and future Arctic engagement.

As part of the trip, the two ports signed a non-binding letter of intent to deepen cooperation, focusing on knowledge sharing and exploring potential opportunities rather than committing to specific investments.

“It is nice that one of the world’s largest ports thinks they have something to learn from us and that they see that in the long term Tromsø can play an important role in world trade between East and West. It is important to emphasize that the Port of Tromsø is not making any specific investments or adjustments in infrastructure as a result of this agreement. For us, this is primarily an opportunity for knowledge exchange and relationship building,” said Tromsø Port Director Jørn-Even Hanssen.

“The visit from the Port of Busan is seen as recognition of our position as a central city and port in the north,” Hanssen concludes.