A Comprehensive Study on Static and Dynamic Operational Efficiency in Major Korean Container Terminals Amid the Smart Port Development Context

Today, the concept of “smart ports”, which are designed to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness, has emerged as a key paradigm in the port and maritime industry. As an integral component of maritime transportation networks, container terminals in ports play a crucial role in facilitating international trade and stimulating economic growth. Accordingly, the Korean government has steadily pursued policies and investments to improve the technological capabilities of ports, focusing on container terminals. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive research that thoroughly analyzes the operational efficiency of container terminals in domestic ports undergoing smart port technology implementation. Therefore, this study analyzes the operational efficiency of 20 container terminals across five major domestic ports, which are forerunners in smart port transformation, as declared by the Korean government. This study employs a Principal Component Analysis (PCA)–Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach to increase the effectiveness of the analysis and addresses efficiency in two aspects: static and dynamic. The findings indicate that container terminals under Ulsan Port and Busan Port (New) have the best operational efficiency. In particular, Ulsan Port demonstrates significant improvement in terms of efficiency changes. The conclusion emphasizes the pivotal role of technological progress in achieving higher efficiency among container terminals. In addition to providing policymakers and port managers with useful insights into smart port transformation, this study is expected to make theoretical contributions to expanding the perspectives of port efficiency research by simultaneously encompassing static and dynamic analyses.