Korean Shippers’ Council

Background

1. Membership and Leading Executive

Members of KITA, which represents more than 60,000 trading companies in Korea, are entitled to membership in the KSC. As of December 2007, the KSC has a membership of more than 64,500 trading companies. The Chairman of KITA also serves as Chairman of the KSC.

2. Shippers' Executive Committee

The Executive Committee, consisting of 42 CEOs and representative directors, prepares a business plan for the KSC and provides policy direction and guidelines in regard to the Council's major activities, including freight negotiation.

3. General Secretariat

The General Secretariat implements policies and activities put forth by the KSC and carries out international undertakings in order to support its small and medium sized members by reducing and keeping in check logistics cost, furthering development of logistics systems, and supporting shippers' rights.

4. Logistics Advisory Committee

The committee generally consists of approximately ten logistics experts from member companies, the transportation industry, academic circles and government authorities. It provides an advisory service for the improvement of logistics.

5. Shippers' Working Subcommittee

Composed of about 100 working-level managers of member companies, the subcommittee exerts itself to achieve the aims of the Council through discussing pertinent issues. It rationalizes transport costs including ocean freight for exports and imports.


Services/Activities

1. Negotiations and Consultations to prevent transportation and logistics charges from being raised unreasonably

To hold back unreasonable rising in the transport charge and promote harmonious development between shippers and carriers, KSC conducts negotiations and consultations regarding freight rates, charges, surcharges, and other shipping related matters with liner conferences, air cargo carriers, domestic truckers, freight forwarders and other relevant organizations on behalf of shippers in Korea.

2. Suggestion and Recommendation to the Government for shipper-friendly logistics environment

Representing all shippers in Korea, KSC surveys and examines unreasonable logistics related statutes and systems which hinder shippers' logistics competitiveness. It also makes suggestions and recommendations to relevant government authorities in order to lift an unnecessary cost burden from Korean shippers and to develop a shipper-friendly environment in the interests of its members.

3. Comprehensive Logistics Information Service

Through our Korean web site(http://shippersgate.kita.net) KSC provides Korean shippers with comprehensive logistics information services such as shipping schedules, freight rates, routes by lines and logistics related news including up-to-date research information on sea, air and domestic transportation. In addition, the Council, with the aim to meet its member's demand for information, frequently sponsors seminars and forums focusing on shippers' concerns.

4. International Cooperation Activities

KSC maintains close relations with regional and global shippers' organizations. Since 1981, KSC has been participating in the Asian Shippers' Meeting(ASM). KSC is also a regular member of the Asian Shippers' Council(ASC) and Global Shippers' Foruml(GSF). In the Federation of ASEAN Shippers' Councils(FASC), it has been participating as an associate member.

5. On-site Supporting Services for Shippers

KSC provides the Korean shippers with various on-site support services in order to ease shippers' difficulties related with logistics. Especially for the small and medium shippers, it gives on-site consulting services customized for individual members in     cooperation with specialized consultants. KSC also offers preferential rate of freight to the member shippers by associating with qualified freight forwarders and other service providers including 3rd patry logistics.