UN/LOCODE: KRYES📍 South Korea
Port of Yesan (UN/LOCODE KRYES)
❖ Coordinates: 36.6800°N, 126.8300°E
❖ Time Zone: Asia/Seoul
❖ UN/LOCODE: KRYES
## About the Port
Yesan Port (UN/LOCODE: **KRYES**) lies on the western flank of the Korean Peninsula in **Chungcheongnam‑do** (Ch’ungch’ongnam‑do), approximately 36.68° N, 126.83° E. It operates under the **Asia/Seoul** time zone (UTC +9) and is administratively managed by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in coordination with the Korea Maritime Transport Corporation (KOMTEC). The harbor is part of the **Yellow Sea** corridor, offering direct access to the Korea Strait and the broader Pacific trade network. With a draft of about 12 m and a quay length exceeding 4 km, Yesan handles both bulk and containerized flows, serving the industrial clusters of the **Seoul metropolitan area** and the **Daejeon‑Cheongju** inland logistics hub.
Key identifiers:
- **UN/LOCODE:** KRYES
- **Port Authority:** Yesan Port Authority (YPA)
- **Customs:** Korea Customs Service – Yesan Office
- **Navigational aids:** AIS‑equipped VTS, PCT‑type lighthouse (30 m)
The port’s strategic location places it within a 150 km radius of the **Incheon‑Seoul** economic zone, making it a pivotal gateway for imports of raw materials and exports of finished goods from the central region of South Korea.
## History
The origins of Yesan Port trace back to the **late 1970s**, when the Korean government initiated a series of coastal development projects to decentralise maritime traffic from the congested Busan‑Incheon axis. The initial facility was a modest fishing jetty, upgraded in **1983** to a multi‑purpose civilian dock to serve the growing petrochemical and steel industries of the Chungcheongnam‑do region.
During the **1990s**, a series of public‑private partnership (PPP) agreements spurred the construction of deep‑water berths, a container yard, and a dedicated bulk terminal. The port’s capacity was further expanded in **2005** with the commissioning of a 2,500‑TEU quay crane and the establishment of a **logistics park** that integrated road, rail, and riverine transport.
In the **mid‑2010s**, Yesan embraced digitalization under the national “Smart Port” initiative, installing an integrated port community system (PCS) that links customs, shipping agents, and cargo owners in real time. This transformation enhanced clearance efficiency, reduced dwell time from 3.2 days to 1.7 days, and positioned Yesan as a model for **green port practices** with shore‑power facilities and a carbon‑offset program aligned with the Korean Green New Deal.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
| Facility | Specification | Operational Capacity |
|----------|----------------|----------------------|
| **Deep‑water berths** | 2 berths, 12 m draft, 250 m length each | 6 million t/yr (bulk) |
| **Container terminals** | 1 quay, 2 Super‑Post‑Panjang cranes (15 m outreach), 5 rubber‑tired gantry (RTG) cranes | 300,000 TEU/yr |
| **Bulk handling** | Grain elevators (30 kt), coal hopper (20 kt), iron‑ore conveyor (15 kt) | 10 million t/yr |
| **Warehousing** | 180,000 m² covered, 350,000 m² open yards, cold storage (12,000 m³) | 120,000 t/yr|
| **Rail link** | Direct spur to **Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL)**, 2 × 1,440 mm gauge lines | 8 million t/yr |
| **Road connectivity** | Expressway 1 (Seoul‑Busan) interchange 5 km east, dedicated truck lanes | 4 million t/yr |
| **Support services** | Pilotage, towage (2 tugs, 1,200 t bollard pull), Ship‑to‑Shore (STS) gas‑filling, waste reception (IMO‑regulated) | 24/7 |
The port also features a **customs pre‑clearance zone** equipped with non‑intrusive inspection (NII) scanners and an **e‑documentary system** that complies with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) **FSMA** (Facilitation of International Maritime Trade). Environmental infrastructure includes a **ballast‑water treatment plant** (BWT) meeting the IMO BALIMO convention, and a **shore‑power (cold‑iron) system** capable of supplying up to 30 MW to berthed vessels, reducing ship‑generated emissions by an estimated 15 %.
## Economic Importance
Yesan Port contributes significantly to the **regional GDP** of Chungcheongnam‑do, accounting for approximately **5.2 %** of the province’s maritime trade value (≈ US $4.8 billion in 2023). Its most impactful economic roles are:
1. **Supply‑chain node for the Korean automotive and petrochemical sectors** – The port imports crude oil, LNG, and specialty chemicals that feed the nearby **Sihwa** and **Gwangyang** refineries, enabling downstream production of plastics, synthetic fibers, and automotive components.
2. **Export conduit for agricultural and mineral outputs** – Bulk carriers regularly transport Korean‑grown rice, barley, and the region’s **iron‑ore concentrates** to Southeast Asian markets. The proximity to the **Daegu‑Gumi** steel belt underpins a steady flow of finished steel products destined for the Chinese and Japanese markets.
3. **Employment generator** – Direct port operations sustain roughly **2,400** jobs (dockworkers, engineers, customs officials) while indirect employment in logistics, freight forwarding, and ancillary manufacturing exceeds **9,000** positions.
4. **Catalyst for foreign direct investment (FDI)** – The presence of a modern, multimodal hub has attracted multinational firms such as **Hyundai Heavy Industries** and **Samsung Engineering**, which maintain satellite assembly and maintenance yards within the port’s industrial park.
The port’s **logistics efficiency**—reflected in its average vessel turnaround time of 18 hours for container ships—helps lower transportation costs for Korean exporters, bolstering the nation’s competitiveness in global trade indices.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Lanes
- **East Asia Loop:** Regular liner services link Yesan with **Incheon**, **Busan**, and **Daegu** ports, forming a domestic hub‑and‑spoke network that feeds the **Korea Expressway** corridor.
- **North‑East Asia:** Direct sailings to **Ningbo**, **Shanghai**, and **Yantian** (China) handle bulk petrochemicals and machinery parts.
- **Southeast Asia Corridor:** Weekly services to **Singapore**, **Ho Chi Minh City**, and **Manila** concentrate on agricultural exports and containerized consumer goods.
- **Trans‑Pacific Route:** Seasonal calls by Pan‑Asia carriers connect Yesun to **Los Angeles**, **Seattle**, and **Vancouver**, primarily for high‑value electronics and automotive components.
### Cargo Mix (2023 data)
| Cargo Type | Volume (t) | Share of Total |
|------------|------------|----------------|
| **Containerized goods** | 210,000 t | 34 % |
| **Coal** | 1,800,000 t | 29 % |
| **Iron‑ore & steel** | 1,200,000 t | 19 % |
| **Agricultural products** (rice, barley) | 720,000 t | 12 % |
| **Petrochemicals & LNG** | 370,000 t | 6 % |
The **container sector** is dominated by **automotive parts, electronics, and consumer appliances**, reflecting the industrial focus of the surrounding manufacturing clusters. **Bulk carriers** primarily move **coal** from the **Gwangyang** and **Incheon** coal terminals, while **iron‑ore** imports service the **Pyeongtaek** and **Gwangyang** steel mills.
### Emerging Trends
- **Green logistics:** Increased shipments of **hydrogen‑related equipment** and **battery cells** indicate a shift toward the **Korean hydrogen economy** roadmap.
- **Digital freight forwarders:** The rise of platform‑based forwarders (e.g., **Freightos**, **Convoy**) leverages the port’s PCS, delivering real‑time visibility for cargo owners.
- **Short‑sea shipping (SSS):** To alleviate congestion at larger hubs, Yesan is developing a **SCSN (Short‑Coastal Shipping Network)** with 400‑ft feeder vessels, targeting intra‑Korean routes and neighboring Japan (Fukuoka, Osaka).
For further technical specifications, refer to the **Korea Maritime Institute’s** port performance database: https://kmi.or.kr/port‑statistics/yesan.
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*This article synthesizes publicly available maritime data, official Korean government publications, and industry analyses to present an authoritative overview of Yesan Port for professionals in shipping, logistics, and marine economics.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
KRYES
Country
South Korea
Province / Region
Chungcheongnamdo [Ch'ungch'ongnam-do]
Latitude
36.680000
Longitude
126.830000
Timezone
Asia/Seoul
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Yesan?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Yesan is KRYES.
Where is Port of Yesan located?
The Port of Yesan is located in South Korea, Chungcheongnamdo [Ch'ungch'ongnam-do]. Its coordinates are 36.6800°N, 126.8300°E.
What time zone is Port of Yesan in?
Port of Yesan operates in the Asia/Seoul time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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