Send Experts to Solve Land Compensation and Aging Issues... 'Eochon New Deal Living Lab' Pilot Project

Ministry of Oceans' Ambitious Project 'Eochon New Deal 300' Success
Living Lab Pilot Projects in Taean, Ulsan, and Yeosu
Experts Sent to Live, Identify Issues, and Solve Them

Perspective view of the Fishing Village New Deal. (Source: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] To address issues such as waste and aging populations faced by residents in the field of this year's major project 'Fisheries New Deal,' the government is promoting a pilot project called the 'Fisheries New Deal Living Lab.' A living lab refers to a social innovation method implemented to solve regional problems.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it will conduct a 'living lab' pilot project in three locations involved in the Fisheries New Deal 300 project: Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do; Ulsan Metropolitan City; and Yeosu, Jeollanam-do. Fisheries New Deal 300 is a major project by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries that modernizes essential fisheries infrastructure such as outdated piers by utilizing unique local resources. The living lab project was initiated based on the judgment that not only facility improvements but also the resolution of chronic issues in the field were necessary. A ministry official revealed, "Due to the aging of fishing village residents and limited expert activities, local councils faced limitations in independently identifying local issues and planning customized projects."

The living lab project is a program where experts live within the community and work together with residents to solve 'chronic issues.' Conflict management experts will participate in Mageompo Port in Taean-gun, Chungnam; Uga Port in Buk-gu, Ulsan; and Yuchon Port in Yeosu, Jeonnam, to identify and resolve factors delaying regional development projects. In particular, they will jointly address practical problems faced by fishing communities such as delays in land compensation negotiations, conflicts among residents, safety accidents during fishing activities, marine waste, and aging fishing villages.

For example, in Gujwa-eup, Jeju, the living lab project uncovered issues such as the abandonment of household waste, solitary deaths due to an increase in single elderly residents, and safety accidents during solo fishing by haenyeo (female divers). Subsequently, achievements included the introduction of smart trash bins, a remote care system for solitary elderly, and the application of safety monitoring equipment for haenyeo's fishing operations.

The three regions will carry out the living lab pilot project over four years in three stages: exploration (1 year) → implementation (2?3 years) → evaluation (4 years), creating a fisheries innovation model. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to promote post-management using the living lab method in other Fisheries New Deal project sites if necessary.

Kim Taekyung, Director of the Fisheries and Fishing Ports Regeneration Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "With the promotion of the Fisheries New Deal Living Lab pilot project, the Fisheries New Deal project will be implemented more solidly, and the accumulated problems of fishing communities are expected to be practically resolved. In particular, to proactively respond to the issue of the disappearance of fishing villages, we will establish a problem-solving fisheries innovation model that can be applied even after the Fisheries New Deal project."

Basic Concept and Plan Layout of the Saemangeum Port Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project in Mageompo Port, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do. (Source: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries)

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