Promoting Korean international trade in the East Sea Economic Rim in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative
ISSN: 1229-828X
Article publication date: 14 June 2018
Issue publication date: 13 July 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze maritime logistics connectivity of ports and shipping networks in the East Sea Economic Rim (ESER) to promote international trade in the context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), considering centrality, primary flow and clustering interaction.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper applies a complex network model, using a big data system consisting of an automated identification system, electronic data interchange and distributive and complex data. Three perspectives, including connectivity in trading ports and regions, centralities in the realm of complex network and potential marketing and regional impacts, and sixteen criteria are considered for this analysis. A visual approach has been also applied to highlight port connectivity and ship flows for the reader’s convenience.
Findings
The paper shows that port connectivity and maritime logistics are enablers to promote Korean international trade in Northeast China through the ESER, and 25 major ports are well connected to promote international trade in the region with visual data of ship flows by ship type and by flag.
Research limitations/implications
Owing to the lack of port management information systems among the countries in the ESER except Korea and Japan, this paper could not capture cargo types and amounts on board. Port connectivity analysis shows links of the ports in the ESER to major ports in southeast Asia along the Twenty-first Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR). These results contribute to drawing policy implications to promote the ESER and provide suggestions for promoting Korean international trade by enhancing maritime logistics connectivity.
Originality/value
Unlike the existing literature showing descriptive and policy-oriented research related to ESER, this paper applied a vigorous method with a big amount of data to analyze port connectivity and ship flows in the ESER, considering China’s BRI affecting the global supply chain system, maritime transportation, and logistics. In addition, the paper shows how the seaports in the ESER are connected along the MSR.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the editors and the anonymous referees for their valuable comments and suggestions. This work is supported by research grant (title: A study on cooperation strategy of regional development and logistics market for the growth of the East Sea Rim, PI: Professor Paul Tae-Woo Lee) of Korea Maritime Institute (KMI). It is also partially supported by the National Nature Science of China (No.71471109), the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai (No. 16040501800).
Citation
Lee, P.T.-W., Lee, S.-W., Hu, Z.-H., Choi, K.-S., Choi, N.Y.H. and Shin, S.-H. (2018), "Promoting Korean international trade in the East Sea Economic Rim in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative", Journal of Korea Trade, Vol. 22 No. 3, pp. 212-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKT-03-2018-0015
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Korea Trade and Research Association.