South Korea marks Seafarers' Day with nationwide events celebrating sailors' role in economy

The government has organized a series of public events to mark the 3rd Seafarers' Day and raise awareness of the role and importance of seafarers.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Thursday that it will hold Seafarers' Week from June 13 to 20, featuring a walking festival, seminars and a deep-sea fishing festival among other commemorative events.

Seafarers' Day was designated a statutory commemorative day in 2023 to promote public awareness of seafarers' contributions and to foster pride among those who serve at sea. It falls on the third Friday of June each year, and this year's ceremony will be held June 19 at the Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center (BPEX).

This year's theme is "A Voyage That Never Stops — Seafarers, the Vanguard of the Korean Economy."

The ministry has organized a range of events throughout Seafarers' Week to bring together seafarers and the general public. The week opens June 13 with a community walking festival, followed by a seafarers' seminar on June 16, a maritime press seminar and seafarers' festival on June 17, a maritime skills competition on June 18, and a deep-sea fishing festival on June 20.

The full schedule and details for Seafarers' Week events are available on the official Seafarers' Week website.

"Seafarers are a core workforce underpinning national economic security," said Kim Hye-jeong, director general of the ministry's Maritime and Logistics Bureau. "We hope the various events held during Seafarers' Week will help the public gain a deeper appreciation of the role and importance of seafarers."