By Alison Koo 29 July 2026South Korean exporters are enthusiastic about the country’s maiden container shipping voyage through the Northern Sea Route. And enquiries and reservations for transhipment cargo from Japan and China are also increasing, raising the likelihood that the Arctic route will expand into a North-east Asian multimodal logistics network. PanStar’s general manager, Kang Sang-in, said: “The Arctic route is not merely about pioneering a new route, but is also a challenge that creates a new history for South Korea’s shipping industry.” The South Korean government is keen to emulate China in arranging expedited container shipping routes through the NSR. In particular, amid heightened uncertainty over the Suez Canal route, due to the Red Sea crisis and geopolitical risks, the Northern Sea Route is attracting interest as an alternative capable of shortening sailing distances and transit times.