ABSTRACT
Korean ports have played a crucial role in the process of economic growth and in dealing with the additional seaborne cargoes that have resulted from the development of the national economy. This chapter describes the importance of ports and terminals to the Korean national economy. It highlights the sharply growing container traffic and insufficient port and terminal capacity. The chapter explains the port administration structures containing a discussion of some characteristics of port management and operation. It focuses on the new port and terminal development plans for coping with the future expected increased demand for port facilities, especially for container terminals, and the prospects for greater private sector participation in ports. The Korean government has traditionally been responsible for the central control of the country's ports in such areas as port administration, management and development. The Korean government pursues the privatisation policy on ports of 'public ownership and private operation'.
