President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday called for fostering a new maritime industry and developing it into a future growth dynamo, underscoring that the maritime sector will present new economic opportunities for Asia's fourth-largest economy.

In a video message at a ceremony marking Marine Day, Park also said that the nation, surrounded by the sea on three sides, should capitalize on its geographical features to fuel its growth momentum.

"(The country) should find a new maritime industry that is linked to biotech, energy, culture and tourism, and foster it into a core business for the creative economy," she said in the message outlined in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province. Creative economy refers to the president's economic initiative that seeks to translate innovative ideas into real business opportunities.

"The sea is the ground that will lead to our future growth," she added.

Park, meanwhile, is on tour of Africa and France. She is to return home on Sunday. (Yonhap)