Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik: "We Will Restore the Prestige of a Major City Among the Top 3 Regions and Top 6 Cities"

Establishment of the 4th Port Master Plan, Construction of Offshore Wind Support Quay and Hinterland Complex

Annual Projects Until 2030 to Be Announced on the 20th

View of Mokpo Inner Harbor (Photo by Mokpo City)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] The blueprint for restoring the former glory of Mokpo Port, the "4th Basic Port Plan," is expected to be finalized on the 20th.

According to Mokpo City, the plan will be submitted to the Cabinet meeting on the 17th and officially announced on the 20th. The plan includes 12 core projects and 5 additional projects for Mokpo Port.

This port plan is a basic plan established every 10 years under the Port Act by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, and it is a phased project running through 2030.

The project will be promoted with 100% national funding in the order of basic plan announcement, detailed design, and construction commencement.

Meanwhile, Mokpo City, judging that it is difficult to secure its own funds for the development of aging and idle ports amid poor finances, has created a project framework suitable for the overall plan from the planning stage and is actively reflecting it to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, demonstrating proactive administration.

Looking at the 12 projects and 5 additional projects for Mokpo Port reflected in this basic plan by pier, Mokpo Inner Port includes the additional expansion of Mokpo Port International Passenger Pier (International Passenger Terminal), the maintenance project for custom-built ships in Daebandong, Mokpo, the maintenance project for the Dongmyeong-dong wharf, and the AMP (Alternative Maritime Power) project. These aim to strengthen passenger functions as a central port connecting islands in the southwest region, install facilities to reduce ship emissions, and develop the former site of the Mokpo Fisheries Cooperative into a pier facility and a complex waterfront space focused on history, leisure, tourism, and passenger functions.

Mokpo North Port includes the expansion of the national fisheries guidance ship pier, the construction of an access road to the North Port hinterland complex, reinforcement of the quay wall facilities due to new shipbuilding, strengthening and construction of gravity-type breakwaters for small vessel mooring, and the establishment of a marine-friendly open campus.

Additionally, by expanding the North Port wharf facilities, the plan secures workspace for fishery product sorting and nurturing and compensates for the lack of fishing vessel mooring facilities, aiming to transform the port into a fishing and seafood industry-centered harbor by supporting the revitalization of fisheries.

Especially, Mokpo New Port, which will be the economic foundation of the region's future, includes five projects: expansion of the automobile pier, construction of hinterland transportation facilities, creation of a support pier and hinterland complex for offshore wind power, conversion of the coal pier function (from coal to general cargo), and construction of a security pier at Mokpo New Port.

The plan aims to support import-export activities in the southwest region, establish logistics bases for China and Southeast Asia, and create added value for the port by building a southwest region automobile export hub.

To integrate and operate the currently dual-operated automobile piers, a new 50,000-ton automobile pier berth was established on the north side of Mokpo New Port.

In addition, as an additional project, the city plans to build a new yacht pier at the southern end of Mokpo New Port to restore order and support activities of the yachts scattered within the port. All yachts currently moored at North Port will be relocated to the New Port yacht pier. Furthermore, a new pier for the West Coast Coast Guard Maintenance Yard will be constructed to secure repair and maintenance functions for navy and coast guard vessels and to promote linkage and activation with shipbuilding, machinery, and other hinterland industries.

Mayor Kim Jongsik stated, "To restore the former glory of Mokpo Port, we will steadily proceed with the numerous projects reflected in the 4th Basic Port Plan as scheduled, enabling Mokpo Port to fulfill its role as a key industrial support port in the southwest region and develop into a shipbuilding support and automobile export-centered port." He added, "Through the expansion of port infrastructure, we will create waterfront cultural spaces and revitalize tourism, thereby generating port added value, revitalizing the local economy, and creating new jobs."

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