[Photo caption: KLCSM CEO O-Gil Kwon (third from right, front row), Min-seok Lee, Director of the 

Seafarers Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (third from left, front row), 

and Min-jong Kim, President of the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology (second 

from left, front row), take a commemorative photo with attendees at the plaque unveiling ceremony 

held on July 5 at KLCSM’s headquarters in Jung-gu, Busan.]

KLCSM, a shipping affiliate of SM Group (Chairman O-Hyun Woo), has been selected as an Authorized 

Ship Management Company by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

On July 5, KLCSM held a plaque unveiling ceremony at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Busan to commemorate 

its selection as a 2024 Authorized Ship Management Company and officially received the government-issued 

certificate. The ceremony was attended by KLCSM CEO O-Gil Kwon, Min-seok Lee, Director of the Seafarers Policy 

Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Min-jong Kim, President of the Korea Institute of Maritime 

and Fisheries Technology, who celebrated the achievement together.

The Authorized Ship Management Company designation is a program administered by the Ministry of Oceans 

and Fisheries since 2021. Each year, the Ministry selects and certifies domestic companies that demonstrate 

outstanding capabilities in ship management expertise and service quality.

KLCSM was honored with the final selection after a rigorous document review, on-site inspection, and 

deliberation by the certification committee, conducted by an evaluation panel composed of government officials 

and academic experts.

As a result of this designation, foreign-flagged vessels managed by KLCSM will be eligible for discounts on port 

facility usage fees when entering Korean ports. Furthermore, as this is a government-certified and highly credible 

recognition, it is expected to significantly enhance KLCSM’s brand value and competitiveness not only in Korea but 

also in the global market.

CEO O-Gil Kwon stated, “Being selected as an Authorized Ship Management Company is a meaningful achievement, 

as it officially acknowledges our expertise and the excellence of our service quality,” and added, “We will continue 

to strive for innovation and service improvement to lead the global maritime market.”

Meanwhile, KLCSM is a shipping affiliate of SM Group, providing total ship management solutions for vessels operated 

by Korea Line Corporation, Korea Shipping Corporation, and SM Line. Originally established in 1977 as Korea Marine 

Agency, the company was renamed to KLCSM in 2010 and became part of SM Group in June 2014.