From October 14 to 27, Dalian Maritime University (DMU)’s teaching and training vessel Yu Kun visited Korea Maritime & Ocean University (KMOU) at its invitation for a two-week program of exchange, internship and practical training activities.

On the afternoon of October 14, KMOU held a welcome ceremony for the arrival of Yu Kun and the DMU delegation. Ryoo Dongkeun, President of KMOU, and Chen Ribiao, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Busan, attended the ceremony, among other guests. Captain Li Anxian of Yu Kun led a delegation of more than 120 faculty members and students to the event.

In his address, Ryoo Dongkeun noted that the two universities have maintained a strong partnership over the years and have worked together to cultivate outstanding maritime professionals, contributing to the development of the maritime sectors in China and the Republic of Korea, as well as the global shipping industry. He expressed the hope that faculty members and students from both universities would engage in extensive exchanges and learn from one another during the program. He also hoped that the visit of Yu Kun would serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the friendship between the two universities and take their cooperation in maritime talent development, scientific research and international exchange to a new level.

In his address, Chen Ribiao noted that the heads of state of China and the Republic of Korea paid successful visits to each other late last year and early this year, laying a solid foundation for deepening cooperation between the two countries in education, culture, economy and trade. He pointed out that DMU and KMOU are geographically close to each other and complementary in strengths. He expressed the hope that the two universities would take this exchange visit as an opportunity to make sustained efforts in talent development, academic research and people‑to‑people exchanges, and deliver more pragmatic outcomes.

On behalf of the delegation of faculty members and students aboard Yu Kun, Captain Li Anxian delivered an address of thanks. He noted that this visit was an in‑depth dialogue and practice‑based study activity that follow through on the consensus of cooperation between the two universities and carried forward their traditional friendship. He expressed the expectation that the two universities would further deepen cooperation in maritime practical training, promote institutionalized academic exchanges, and broaden channels for youth cultural exchanges. Meanwhile, he encouraged the faculty members and students of the delegation to learn with humility, observe strict discipline, and fully demonstrate the fine image and conduct of DMUers.

At the welcome ceremony, Ryoo Dongkeun presented DMU with a commemorative plaque marking the exchange visit on behalf of Korea Maritime & Ocean University.
The visit and practical training activities comprised several modules, including lectures, field research, experience exchange, and cultural exchange.

In the lecture module, nine experts and scholars from KMOU, including Moon-Su Jeong, Lee Chang Hee, Ha Seungman, Hyeon Taek Nam, Sang-Won Lee, and Junghwan Choi, delivered thematic lectures to the DMU delegation on topics such as Arctic routes, decarbonization assessment of ship engine rooms, thermal management of marine systems, intelligent shipping development, the current state of Asian shipping, and shipping cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea.

In the field research module, the DMU delegation visited and conducted practical activities at a series of sites, including the Onboard Training Hall, the Marine Simulation Center, and the ETRS Center of KMOU; the National Maritime Museum of Korea; the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology (KIMFT) ; the Korea Maritime Mobility·Safety Expo 2026; and the 2026 World Maritime Day Parallel Event.

During the experience exchange session, the delegation held an exchange symposium with faculty and students from KMOU. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on their respective practices and experiences in talent development, scientific research, faculty recruitment, international cooperation, crew training, student affairs, and Arctic research.

In the cultural exchange segment, Chinese and Korean students were mixed into four teams to compete in fun sports games. The delegation also visited DMU students currently studying at KMOU under the exchange program. Meanwhile, the training vessel Yu Kun welcomed over a hundred visitors on board, including KMOU President Ryoo Dongkeun, Chen Ribiao (Consul General of China in Busan), and KMOU faculty and students.

On the morning of October 27, following a farewell ceremony hosted by KMOU faculty and student representatives, the training vessel Yu Kun set sail for its return voyage.