KR moves global headquarters

Dr Oh Kong-gyun, chairman and CEO, KR, said: “The opening of our new international headquarters is the culmination of many years planning and represents a significant step forward for our growing organisation. It is another milestone on the path to achieving our 2020 vision.”

By relocating its head office from Daejeon in central Korean, the company says it has placed itself within the maritime centre in Busan. The move also means it will be closer to its shipping customers, part of the Korean Register’s future plan.

As well as opening its new headquarters, the company’s new ‘Smart KR’ logo was also unveiled, which KR says stands for “Smart Infra, Smart Management and Smart Business, which will lead to a Smart Industrial Ecosystem.”

Although nearly 350 staff have moved from the Daejeon headquarters, the R&D centre and other non-marine related functions will remain in central Korea.

Over 400 senior representatives from shipyards, governments and classifications societies witnessed the opening of the new location.

KR’s three regional headquarters, Europe-Athens, China-Shanghai and AsiaPacific-Singapore, and its 59 international branch offices, will be controlled from the new corporate HQ.