Compared with the global average, Korean shipping companies perform strongly in the systemic disclosure of GHG reduction strategies and in reporting their responses to IMO regulations. However, they lag the global average on disclosures related to investment and fleet transition.

The environmental scores of large Korean shipping companies included in the global 100 list were above the global average with—68.40 for Pan Ocean and 65.53 for HMM. However, their performance in fleet efficiency management remains weak, and among Korea’s small- and medium-sized shipping companies, the necessary systems are largely lacking.

These achievements are not sufficient for Korea to become the green-shipping leader. Concrete plans and investment disclosures for structural decarbonization—introducing alternative-fuel vessels, replacing aging ships, and newbuilding delivery schedules—remain limited. In particular, insufficient fuel-mix transparency makes it difficult to assess real-world progress. Moreover, many bulk and tanker operators are likely already within the scope of regulation, making fleet-efficiency upgrades and transition investment unavoidable to sustain operations.

Korea’s shipping sector therefore faces a dual challenge of transparency and investment. Where transition investment is lacking, it should be scaled up immediately; where it is already under way, progress should be disclosed transparently with quantitative indicators.

Accordingly, this report sets out recommendations for companies and government as follows: