THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEA TRANSPORT IN SOUTH KOREA BETWEEN 2002-2017

The transformation of South Korea from one of the poorest countries in the world in the 1950s to an industrial power and a member of OECD was exceptionally fast. The policy promoting the import of raw materials and the latest technologies enabled Korea to join the group of the most rapidly growing economies in the world in 2004. Such an imposing growth rate was the result of booming industrial production, trade expansion to Asian, American and European markets and a liberal economic policy. The Korean economy is the most foreigntrade dependent country of all OECD members, with sea transport playing a predominant role. This article analyses basic Korean macroeconomic indicators within 2002-2018, with particular emphasis on the GDP. It discusses sea transport figures, including the cargo handling capacity of Korean ports, as well as port and logistics operations and the throughput of Busan, the largest South Korean and one of the largest seaport in the world. Additionally, this article shows innovation and ecology focus in the port of Busan, and primary directions of the state policy in the field of environmentally friendly growth.