Jeju National University envisions a maritime MRO industrial ecosystem, teams up with KAIST and Hanwha Ocean on strategy

[Financial News, Jeju = Jung Yong-bok] Discussions among local government, industry, academia and research institutions are gaining momentum in Jeju as the island seeks to nurture maritime MRO into a new industrial ecosystem. The goal is to create a virtuous cycle that links university research and talent development with corporate market experience, local government policy support and the expertise of specialized institutions, ultimately connecting talent cultivation with jobs and long-term settlement in the region.
According to JNU on the 27th, the university will hold the "Jeju Maritime MRO Ecosystem Building Strategy Forum" at 3 p.m. on the 28th in the grand banquet hall on the second floor of Hotel Nanta Jeju.
MRO stands for maintenance, repair and overhaul. The forum will examine changes in the global MRO industry, the use of advanced technologies, talent development linked to industry-academia-research cooperation, and companies' expansion into global markets. It will also assess the potential for building a Jeju-specific industrial ecosystem.
The forum, hosted by JNU, will bring together officials from universities, Jeju Island, industry and research institutions. Rather than focusing on short-term industrial discussions, the event will center on finding a cooperative framework that connects R&D, workforce training and corporate participation to help Jeju grow into a future hub for the maritime industry.
The first presentation will be delivered by Professor Kim Man-gi of KAIST. Under the theme "Global Changes in the MRO Industry and Strategies for Building a Jeju-Style Future Industrial Ecosystem," he will outline the competitiveness Jeju can secure amid global industry shifts and the direction for building an industrial ecosystem.
Professor Jeong Ji-hyeon of JNU's College of Engineering will present on "Jeju-Style MRO Innovation Based on Advanced Technologies and Talent Development Strategies Linked to Industry, Academia and Research." She will discuss how to connect technological innovation with university education to train the workers needed on the ground.
From the corporate side, Kim Dae-sik, executive director at Hanwha Ocean, will speak on "The Role of Companies in Entering the Global MRO Market and Building a Jeju-Style Industrial Ecosystem." He will examine the conditions needed to connect Jeju's MRO industry with the market from the perspective of a company active in the global arena.
A panel discussion will follow under the theme, "How Should Jeju's Maritime MRO Industrial Ecosystem Be Built?"
Jin Hee-jong, former head of the Jeju Lifelong Education and Scholarship Promotion Agency, will moderate the session. The three presenters, Kim Man-gi, Jeong Ji-hyeon and Kim Dae-sik, will take part in the discussion.
Other panelists include Kang Jae-hyeok, deputy director of innovation at JNU's planning office; Kang Seung-oh, head of the maritime industry division at Jeju Island; Kang Seong-ui, a member of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Council's administration and autonomy committee; Jung Gwi-il, executive director at the Korea International Trade Association (KITA); Lee Jin-hwan, head of the MRO division at Isak Co. and a former Navy brigadier general; and Hyeon Jun-won, senior researcher at the Korea Legislation Research Institute (KLRI).
JNU said the participation of universities, local government, companies and specialized institutions in trade, shipbuilding and legislation should make it possible to comprehensively discuss the policies, corporate participation and talent development system needed to actually build a Jeju-style MRO industrial ecosystem.
In particular, JNU is seeking ways to connect talent development, employment and local settlement into a single flow. The idea is to build a structure in which the university trains relevant workers, the industrial ecosystem creates jobs, and people can remain in the region.
Whether the discussions presented at the forum will lead to actual joint industry-academia-research projects, corporate participation and specialized workforce training programs is expected to be the key factor in the future development of Jeju's maritime MRO ecosystem.

[email protected] Jung Yong-bok Reporter