South Korea's largest shipping company, HMM, will officially begin operations at its temporary office in Busan next month. Following the relocation of its headquarters to Busan, the company is now set to start its 'Busan era' as executives and employees begin working in the city.
According to a report by Aju Economy on September 27, HMM will commence official operations at its temporary office located in the DB Financial Center in Bujeon-dong, Busanjin-gu, starting October 12. Initially, about 100 employees from the existing Busan sales headquarters will move to the temporary office to begin their work.
The workforce in Busan will primarily consist of personnel from the container business division. Key teams include the Busan sales team, import customer support team, transshipment operations team, logistics operations team, and port operations team, all responsible for sales, customer support, and logistics at Busan Port.
The CEO is expected to start regular duties in Busan after the opening ceremony on the 13th. Reports indicate that the CEO will work at the temporary office for part of the week while commuting between Seoul and Busan. Government officials, including the Minister and Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, are also expected to attend the opening ceremony.
However, the opening ceremony may be postponed due to the National Assembly's audit schedule. A Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official stated, "The schedule for the opening ceremony on the 13th is currently set, but there is a possibility it could be delayed depending on the audit schedule."
The commencement of operations at the temporary office signifies a significant step in HMM's transition from merely relocating its headquarters on paper to an actual organizational move. After confirming the relocation to Busan through labor-management agreements in April, HMM completed the registration for the change of headquarters. In July, the company also signed a lease agreement for four floors of the DB Insurance building in Bujeon-dong, securing space for the actual move.
The remaining task is the additional relocation of the Seoul organization. HMM's labor and management are currently in discussions regarding the scale and personnel of the additional relocation to Busan. Decisions will be made considering operational efficiency, company competitiveness, and the working conditions of employees.
Currently, about 900 employees are working at HMM's office in Park One Tower 1 in Yeouido, Seoul. Support measures for their housing and education, as well as the scope of the remaining organization in Seoul, are also challenges that need to be addressed.
An industry insider noted, "While the opening of the temporary office and the CEO's duties in Busan symbolize the start of HMM's relocation, the core of the actual move will ultimately depend on how much of the Seoul organization and personnel are transferred. Sufficient discussions between labor and management are necessary, considering operational continuity and the settling conditions for employees."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.