Jeonbuk State announced on the 30th that the Gunsan Port–Busan Port feeder route, promoted jointly with Gunsan City, the Gunsan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Gunsan Container Terminal, has officially begun its inaugural voyage.

This new feeder route connects regional ports with large transshipment hubs using small and medium-sized vessels. It was initiated to secure new cargo volume for Gunsan Port and alleviate the logistics cost burden on import and export companies within the province.

From February of last year to August of this year, Jeonbuk State and the Gunsan Port Port Sales Delegation held discussions six times with SCL (Supply Chain Logistics), the operating shipping company, and actively conducted port sales by directly visiting tenant companies in Gunsan to secure cargo volume.

As a result, SCL recently secured the 2,700-ton, 170 TEU-class vessel "Jaeon Nike" and set out on its maiden voyage today. The Jaeon Nike will operate five voyages per month, handling approximately 200 TEUs per voyage (170 TEUs for imports, 30 TEUs for exports) and totaling 1,000 TEUs of container cargo monthly.

This volume accounts for 50% of Gunsan Container Terminal's total monthly cargo volume of approximately 2,000 TEUs. Once the route is operating stably, it is projected to secure 12,000 TEUs—equivalent to about 180,000 tons—of new cargo volume annually.

In the early stages of operation, considering Busan New Port's berth availability and fuel costs, cargo will be transported by rail between Busan and Gwangyang, and connected via feeder vessel between Gwangyang and Gunsan. Afterward, in line with the opening of the Busan New Port feeder-exclusive terminal in the first half of 2027, the route will be progressively transitioned into a direct feeder route between Busan and Gunsan to further reduce transit time and logistics costs.

The province expects this new route to reduce the logistics cost burden on local import and export companies—which have previously relied on land transportation to utilize major ports like Busan—while boosting the overall logistics competitiveness of Gunsan Port.

Cargo attraction incentives will also be expanded to ensure the stable settlement and continuous operation of the feeder route. Jeonbuk State and Gunsan City plan to raise the support unit price for domestic cargo shipping companies from 10,000 won to 40,000 won per TEU, and provide a route-opening grant of 100 million won if cargo volume exceeds 2,000 TEUs per semi-annual period.

Kim Chul-tae, Director-General of the Saemangeum Marine and Fisheries Bureau of Jeonbuk State, stated, "The opening of this Gunsan Port feeder route will serve as an opportunity to secure new cargo volume and enhance the logistics competitiveness of local enterprises. We will continue our port sales efforts to secure new cargo volume so that the route settles stably and leads to the vitalization of Gunsan Port."

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