South Korea to train AI-ready maritime logistics professionals with new certification

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ulsan Port Authority announced Tuesday that registration for the second regular examination of the state-recognized "Smart Maritime Logistics Manager" certification will run Wednesday through July 14. The exam will be held Aug. 8 in five metropolitan cities: Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Daejeon and Ulsan.

The Smart Maritime Logistics Manager certification is designed to cultivate professionals who can apply information and communications technology — including big data, AI and the Internet of Things — to the shipping and logistics industry. First introduced as a private qualification in 2022, it was elevated to a state-recognized private qualification in December last year. The first regular exam held this year produced 559 successful candidates.

This year's exam adds a new "AI technology fundamentals" module to the ICT component subject. An official standard textbook has also been produced to help applicants study and is available as a free PDF download on the certification exam website. An additional 100 printed copies of the textbook will be distributed through a social media event run by the Ulsan Port Authority.

Applications can be submitted through the certification exam website.

Kim Hye-jeong, director general of the ministry's maritime logistics bureau, urged broad participation in the exam. "We will continue to support the development of convergence talent who will lead the digital transformation of the shipping and logistics industry," she said.