Attends unveiling ceremony at HMM's Busan headquarters

President Lee Jae Myung participates in the unveiling ceremony at HMM's Busan headquarters on Tuesday. From left: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Minister Hwang Jong-woo, President Lee, HMM President Choi Won-hyuk and Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung participates in the unveiling ceremony at HMM's Busan headquarters on Tuesday. From left: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Minister Hwang Jong-woo, President Lee, HMM President Choi Won-hyuk and Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung traveled to Busan on Monday to attend a welcome ceremony marking the completion of a trial voyage along the Arctic route, and afterward made his way to a waterfront park to see Bukang-i, a shark that has drawn visitors from across the country.

Cheong Wa Dae communications chief Seong Gi-hong said in a written briefing that Lee visited the waterfront park where Bukang-i is kept and spoke with citizens who had come from various parts of the country to see the shark.

During the visit, Lee greeted cheering crowds, shook hands and took selfies with them, Seong said.

"Many citizens said they came to see Bukang-i and ended up seeing the president too," Seong added, noting that the crowd was in high spirits.

Before heading to the park, Lee attended the unveiling ceremony at HMM's Busan headquarters, where he congratulated the company on the opening and encouraged employees who had relocated from Seoul.

The relocation of HMM — South Korea's largest shipping company and the eighth largest in the world — to Busan was pursued as a state policy priority of the Lee administration.

At the ceremony, Lee joined attendees in pulling back the drape covering a structure that had symbolized HMM when it was based in Seoul, officially marking the start of the company's Busan era.

Lee also asked employees how they were settling into life in Busan and whether they had any difficulties, stressing that "employee satisfaction must be high."

After wrapping up his visit to HMM, Lee went to Pier 5 at Busan's North Port to inspect the Panstar Acro, a vessel that had just returned from completing the Arctic trial voyage.

At the pier, Lee toured the Acro and asked Captain Seo Myeong-won and the minister of oceans and fisheries about the ship's structure and equipment. He also took in a panoramic view of the North Port and received briefings on port operations and development plans.


sang@heraldcorp.com