The initiative focuses on pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), which operate on high-volume routes and are well-suited for adopting green technologies due to simpler cargo-handling needs. By prioritizing long-haul routes, the corridor aims to achieve significant emissions reductions, complementing existing container-based efforts. Pyeongtaek Port, a key export hub for automakers like Hyundai, Kia, and KG Mobility, is strategically positioned to lead this effort, supported by a governance model that encourages public-private partnerships.
The report emphasizes green methanol, a renewable fuel with near-zero emissions, as a cornerstone of the proposal. It estimates that switching to green methanol on the Bremerhaven-Pyeongtaek route could cut approximately 1.4 million metric tons of CO? annually, compared to the 2 million tons emitted using conventional fuels. With methanol expected to comprise over 20% of marine fuel by 2050, the report calls for robust supply chains and policy support, including a Green Corridor Act and financial incentives.
SFOC researcher Jueun Han stated: “Green shipping corridors with Europe present a strategic opportunity for South Korea. With Europe leading maritime decarbonization, Korea is well-positioned to cooperate by establishing a private-sector-led pilot corridor centered around Pyeongtaek Port. Developing green shipping corridors is essential to securing the long-term competitiveness of Korea’s shipping and shipbuilding industries.”
The proposal aligns with South Korea’s Greenship-K Program, targeting zero greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by 2050, and supports the International Maritime Organization’s net-zero goals. It also builds on global efforts, such as South Korea’s collaboration with Australia to establish a green shipping corridor and the North Pacific Green Corridor Consortium’s work to decarbonize commodity transport between North America and Asia.
