2025 Korea Maritime Week: Direction for Maritime Digitalization and Decarbonization
The 2025 Korea Maritime Week was held in Seoul from 20 to 23 October under the theme The Beginning of Transition: New Opportunity, New Ocean. The event brought together leaders from the global maritime community, government officials, representatives of international organizations, and experts from industry and academia to discuss the ongoing transformation of the shipping and maritime sectors. Participants exchanged views on the key paradigms of the maritime industry—digitalization, decarbonization, and safety—and emphasized the importance of international cooperation in setting the future direction of the maritime industry.
Variety of programs
The 2025 Korea Maritime Week comprised a variety of programs, including high-level meetings, technical workshops, and expert forums addressing major IMO and IALA-related topics. Among them, the International Maritime Mobility Forum, the Digital@Sea Asia-Pacific International Conference, and the MASS Symposium were highlighted as the core sessions where key issues were discussed in depth. The event demonstrated Korea’s leadership in driving international discussions on digital-oriented maritime development and symbolically represented Korea’s efforts to present the direction of global cooperation toward a smart and environmentally friendly maritime future.
Focus on maritime mobility
At the International Maritime Mobility Forum, discussions focused on the technological limitations and solutions for maritime mobility, as well as the potential for collaboration among the aerospace, land, and maritime domains. Participants emphasized that the advancement of next-generation navigation and communication technologies is fundamentally transforming the paradigms of maritime transport and logistics and discussed related policy directions. They also shared a consensus on the importance of international cooperation and technological challenges in the development of Arctic routes and polar navigation, while proposing education programs and cooperation networks for the training of professionals. These discussions were closely linked to IALA’s ongoing efforts in global navigation safety and international standardization, reaffirming the shared commitment to strengthening the safety and integration of the global maritime mobility system.
Innovation in maritime communication
At the Digital@Sea Asia-Pacific International Conference, in-depth discussions were held on innovation in maritime communication and the direction of digital transformation, focusing on the establishment of digital infrastructure and data standardization in the maritime sector. Experts emphasized that VDES and the S-100-based maritime data model will serve as the foundation for future marine information management systems, assessing that these new technologies will enable ships to evolve beyond traditional means of transport into intelligent maritime platforms. Participants also pointed out that in the era of autonomous navigation, ensuring the quality of real-time, high-precision hydrographic data and promoting international cooperation on standardization are essential tasks.
Recognition of MASS: a comprehensive challenge
At the MASS Symposium, participants shared the recognition that the development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) is a comprehensive challenge that requires changes across institutional, human, and industrial structures, going beyond mere technological advancement. Speakers emphasized that for the commercialization of autonomous ships, securing social acceptance and technological reliability is crucial, and stressed the need to expand data-driven verification systems and demonstration projects. These discussions were closely connected with IALA’s initiatives on e-Navigation and VDES standardization, highlighting that the development of autonomous ships should advance alongside the establishment of globally harmonized regulatory frameworks that ensure safety and institutional coherence in the future maritime industry.
IALA’s core objectives
Throughout the event, various topics were discussed regarding maritime digital transformation and the enhancement of navigational safety, which are closely related to IALA’s core objectives—enhancing safety of navigation, improving efficiency, protecting the environment, and promoting international standardization. Participants emphasized that the advancement of maritime digitalization should not stop at the level of technological innovation but should contribute to building a safer and more reliable navigation infrastructure.
Digital and green transitions; awareness of international solidarity
The 2025 Korea Maritime Week served as an important occasion to reaffirm the international community’s commitment to achieving both digital and green transitions in the shipping and maritime sectors. It also presented a concrete direction for how the global maritime community can realize a sustainable ocean future centered on technological innovation, institutional alignment, and capacity-building. Furthermore, the event raised awareness of the necessity of international solidarity to lead transformation across the maritime industry and demonstrated Korea’s continued leadership in digital maritime technology, standardization, and green shipping policy. Based on close cooperation with IALA and regional partners, Korea plans to continue contributing to the establishment of a sustainable maritime ecosystem through the expansion of digital maritime infrastructure, the strengthening of professional capacity, and the development of international standards.
