The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) enables decision makers to represent the interaction of multiple factors in complex and unstructured situations. The process requires the decision maker to develop a hierarchical structure of the factors in the given problem and to provide judgments about the relative importance of each of these factors and ultimately to specify a preference for each decision alternative with respect to each factor. The research presented in this paper applies the AHP to identify key players in promoting port competitiveness. The literature survey revealed four major criteria and 15 sub-criteria. The four factors are cost, service quality, facility/capacity and economic-social variable. 150 questionnaires suitable for AHP analysis were made and 77 were returned. It is found that in terms of cost, the first key player is terminal operator and the second key player is shipping companies calling Busan port; in terms of service quality, the first key player is terminal operator, and the second key player is shipping companies calling Busan port; in terms of facility/capacity, the first key player is port authority and the second key player is terminal operator; in terms of economic-social variable, the first key player is terminal operator, and the second key player is shipping companies calling Busan port.