South Korea’s cruise market is experiencing a major upswing as key ports move towards infrastructure upgrades and deepen global tourism strategies.
Further into Arctic waters
In a first, the South Korean government’s 2026 draft budget includes substantial funds to construct ships with Arctic cruising capabilities. Eleven billion won (US$12.8 billion) has been allocated per ice-capable vessel.
This follows a recent Pohang forum among sea trade leaders and academics, exploring the Northern Sea Route as a new corridor for connecting Korean ports towards those in the Arctic and north Europe.
Busan pushes global maritime momentum
Busan has become the first Asian city to join the board of the World Association of Port Cities. Photo Credit: Busan Tourism Organization
South Korea has also parked an investment of 1.66 trillion won to modernise strategically important ports such as Jinhae in Busan and the port of Gwangyang.
Notably, Busan – home to the world’s seventh-largest and second-busiest transshipment port – recently become the first Asian city to join the board of the World Association of Port Cities (AIVP).
Its entry secures influence towards maritime and port collaborations worldwide, just in time as Busan pushes on its North Port redevelopment project, pegged at 20 trillion won.
Split into three phases, phase one has entered its final stage – with the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal, Busan Port Complex Hydrophilic Park and North Port Marina completed. An opera house is set for a 2027 opening along Busan’s reclaimed waterfront land.
When phase two completes, a mix of port areas, housing, commerce, business, railway and tourism facilities will set across 2.28 sqm of land in Jung-gu and Dong-gu.
Busan Port Authority President Song Sanggeun also recently joined TOC Asia 2025 in Singapore, highlighting the port’s smart and automation technology adoption and future digital transformation direction while expressing keen interest in exchanges with overseas markets.
“We will not stop at the achievement of being elected as a board member city, but will do our best to attract the 2027 general assembly and, in the long term, establish the Asian headquarters of the World Association of Port Cities in Busan,” said Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon in a BusinessKorea report.
Sokcho’s premium sector focus
Locals joined an experience programme onboard Costa Serena to raise awareness of the cruising industry Photo Credit: Gangwon Tourism Foundation
Gangwon Province has its eyes set on transforming Sokcho into a central cruise hub, which currently has 12 homeport calls scheduled this year, and 29 confirmed through 2029.
A highlight in 2025 was the inaugural call of Australian ship, Scenic Eclipse II, which saw officials pulling together pop-up stores, tourist information centres, experience zones and planned transport to ferry passengers to local attractions.
To increase exposure and interest to cruising, Gangwon officials planned a cruise experience for 200 locals onboard Italian-flagged cruise ship Costa Serena earlier this year in September. The seven day voyage departed from Sokcho Port, and called at Muroran, Kushiro, and Hakodate in Japan before arriving at Busan Port.
In 2026, Sokcho will welcome Seabourn’s first call, as well as a visit from The World, the world’s largest private residential yacht.
Wonshik Park, MICE and cruise team director added that the city will be hosting key charter market players as well as travel agencies for a Sokcho Port Showcase, and a familiarisation tour for Japanese cruise lines.