Next to Gadukdo is 'Jinhae New Port'... Construction to Start in 2 Years

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Announces '2030 Port Policy Directions and Implementation Strategies' at Cabinet Meeting

Location and Name: Busan Concedes to Gyeongnam
A total of 15 berths including 14 berths capable of accommodating 30,000 TEU ultra-large vessels
Gwangyang Port to serve as an automation testbed, with full-scale smart port operation starting in 2030

Moon Sung-hyuk, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. (File photo)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The 'Busan Port 2nd New Port,' being constructed in Jinhae, Changwon, Gyeongnam, will commence construction in 2022. Reflecting the recent trend of larger vessels, it will have a total of 15 berths, including 14 berths capable of accommodating ultra-large vessels of 30,000 TEU (1 TEU = one 6-meter container). Instead of manned port handling and transport equipment, it will be built as an automated port utilizing domestically developed remote control and autonomous driving automation equipment.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it reported these details in the '2030 Port Policy Direction and Promotion Strategy' at a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in.

First, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries confirmed the official name of Busan Port 2nd New Port as 'Jinhae New Port,' accepting the local government's proposal. Jinhae New Port will be constructed in the Jedukman area of Jinhae-gu, Changwon City, facing Busan New Port. It is also geographically close to Gadeokdo, Busan. Although there was some conflict between Busan and Gyeongnam over the location and name of the new port, it is reported that Busan City conceded to Gyeongnam Province.

Jinhae New Port will be developed to accommodate 14 ultra-large vessels of 30,000 TEU simultaneously. Currently, the largest vessel is the 24,000 TEU class owned by HMM, but it is anticipated that vessel sizes will increase further in the future. The government plans to further solidify the status of Northeast Asia's logistics hub through Jinhae New Port.

One of the core aspects of this port policy is 'smart.' First, 594 billion KRW will be invested in Gwangyang Port, ranked 11th worldwide (based on total cargo volume), to establish a port automation testbed by 2026. Through this, domestic technology will be developed and operational experience gained, enabling the introduction of domestically developed automation technology at Jinhae New Port, with full-scale operation of a Korean-style smart port starting in 2030.

Additionally, to prepare for large-scale natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, strong winds, and tsunamis, the port design standards will be raised from a recurrence interval of 50 years to 100 years. Furthermore, Geogryeolbiyeoldo, the westernmost island in the mid-western sea area of Korea, will be preliminarily designated as a national managed coastal port, and 86 billion KRW will be invested to expand the Coast Guard pier and fisheries management ship pier, thereby strengthening territorial defense functions in the mid-western sea area.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries expects that if this port policy is successfully implemented, it will generate a production inducement effect of 83 trillion KRW, added value of 28 trillion KRW, and 550,000 jobs (including construction workers). Cargo volume is projected to increase to 1.96 billion tons by 2030.

Minister Moon Sung-hyuk of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated, "We will do our best to steadily promote port development over the next 10 years so that Korea can emerge as an advanced port logistics country amid changes in the international environment and realize a digital port with global competitiveness."

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