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News 09 Mar, 2026

West Appoints S. R. Kim as Exclusive Representative in Korea

West P&I today announced an exclusive consultancy services agreement with WIK Marine Consultant Co., Ltd., appointing its director, Mr. S. R. Kim, as the Club’s exclusive representative in Korea. The move marks a significant step in West’s international growth strategy.

Building on its strategic focus on Asia, West P&I has entered an exclusive consultancy service agreement with Seoul-based WIK Marine Consultant Co., Ltd. and appointed its director, Mr. S. R. Kim, as its exclusive representative in Korea. The move strengthens the Club’s local engagement in one of the region’s most important maritime markets and reflects West’s long-term commitment to supporting the Korean shipping community while ensuring dedicated support for clients and partners across the country.

Korea is a strategically important maritime centre in Asia, with a strong shipowning community, world-leading shipbuilding industry and advanced maritime services sector. In his role, Mr. Kim will support West’s activities in Korea across brand visibility, industry engagement, market education and market intelligence, while strengthening relationships with Members and brokers and providing local market insight and feedback.

Mr. Kim brings more than 24 years of experience in maritime insurance, claims management and risk advisory. Most recently, he served as Director and Team Leader of the P&I Claims Team at the Korea Shipowners’ Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association (Korea P&I Club). Prior to this, he held senior roles at Samsung SDS and Pan Ocean, specialising in maritime claims, logistics risk management and insurance matters across international markets. He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Maritime Law from the University of Southampton and the P&I Qualification (PQ) certificate from the International Group of P&I Clubs.

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Commenting on the appointment, Tony Paulson, Head of Asia & Corporate Director of West said: “We are delighted to welcome S. R. Kim as the exclusive representative for West in Korea. His extensive experience in maritime insurance and claims management, together with his deep understanding of the Korean shipping market, makes him exceptionally well placed to support our Members and partners in the region.”

Mr. S. R. Kim also commented: “I am honoured to represent West in the Korean market. Korea continues to play a central role in global shipping, and I look forward to working closely with shipowners and industry partners to support West’s Members and further strengthen the Club’s presence in the region.”

This appointment does not replace or impact the role of West’s listed correspondents in Korea, who remain the same and continue to play a crucial role in assisting Members and entered vessels should they have any issues in Korean ports. 

Mr. S. R. Kim, Director of WIK Marine Consultant Co., Ltd.