United Future Party Changwon City Council Member and Non-Profit Organization at Odds Over New Port Small Vessel Wharf Development Position

Jinhae Fisheries Cooperative and Others Warn, "United Party Should Not Mention Our Name"

Four non-profit organizations in Changwon, including Jinhae Fisheries Cooperative and Uichang Fisheries Cooperative, held a press conference on the 20th to state that they have never supported the official position of Changwon city council members from the United Future Party regarding the construction of the new port small vessel pier.
(Photo by Hwang Choi Hyun-joo)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Choi Hyun-joo] On the 20th, representatives from Jinhae Fisheries Cooperative and Uichang Fisheries Cooperative in Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, the Jinhae Marine Port Development Council, and the Jinhae-gu Residents' Autonomy Committee Chairpersons Association held a press conference to state that they have never supported the official position of Changwon City councilors affiliated with the United Future Party regarding the construction of the new port small vessel pier.

Earlier, on the 15th, the United Future Party city councilors held a press conference at the City Hall Press Center under the theme "Busan Port Authority, stop mocking Changwon City."

At that time, the city councilors condemned the projects promoted by the Port Authority, such as the Jinhae Yeondo Marine Culture Space project and the construction of the second new port small barge pier, which were proceeding without Changwon City's involvement. Non-profit organizations including Jinhae Fisheries Cooperative also expressed their alignment with this stance. However, representatives of these organizations did not attend the press conference.

Five days after their press conference, on the 20th, Jinhae Fisheries Cooperative and others held a press conference warning, "Do not use us for political strife," showing a discordant attitude toward the United Future Party city councilors.

According to Jinhae Fisheries Cooperative, the Jinhae Marine Port Development Council is a corporation that seeks to promote mutual cooperation with Changwon City through securing autonomy over Changwon's marine ports, and the Jinhae-gu Residents' Autonomy Committee Chairpersons Association is an organization that cooperates to strengthen resident autonomy activities and promote the formation of local communities.

In particular, these organizations stated, "Although the construction of the new port small vessel pier should prioritize the protection of fishermen's rights and interests, the United Future Party city councilors' claims regarding the failure of the 2017 barge relocation project to Jinhae must be accurately clarified by the project executor, the Busan Port Construction Office," adding, "We do not permit any barges."

They further stated, "The press conference held by the United Future Party city councilors was conducted without prior coordination or consultation with any organizations, and we demand a responsible apology for any inaccuracies."

Labor leader of Jinhae Fisheries Cooperative, Dongjin No, said, "Although there was a request for consultation on whether it was acceptable to include our organization's name during the city councilors' press conference, we did not agree," and reiterated, "Do not use us for political purposes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.