Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Designate Gyeongryeolbido, Gampo, and Jinchon Ports as 'Coastal Ports'

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will commence the "Feasibility Study for the Designation of New Coastal Ports" on the 26th to newly designate Gyeongryeolbido Port, Gampo Port, and Jinchon Port as coastal ports to protect maritime territory and revitalize the regional economy.

Coastal ports are harbors where vessels operating domestic routes enter and exit, and are classified as nationally managed coastal ports or locally managed coastal ports depending on regional characteristics and port functions. Since initially designating 21 ports as coastal ports in 1991, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries currently manages and operates 29 coastal ports, assigning them the role of forward bases for territorial sea management and regional economic revitalization.

Gyeongryeolbido, targeted for new coastal port designation, is a military and geographical strategic point located near the Exclusive Economic Zone and at the westernmost end of the West Sea. There has been a continuous need to expand port facilities at Gyeongryeolbido for illegal fishing monitoring and as a refuge for vessels in emergencies.

Gampo Port in Gyeongju and Jinchon Port in Tongyeong are in situations where, considering passenger and future cargo handling demands, development as coastal ports is necessary to utilize them as resources for regional economic revitalization.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries included the preliminary designation of these three ports as new coastal ports in the "4th Basic Port Plan (2021?2030)" announced last December, and allocated 300 million KRW for the research project to designate new coastal ports.

This feasibility study is a preliminary procedure for designating the ports as coastal ports. Over nine months until December this year, conditions of the regions where the ports are located, passenger and cargo demand will be assessed, and opinions from local governments and experts will be collected to conduct basic investigations for systematic development.

Kim Myungjin, Director of Port Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "We will carry out the feasibility study for the new coastal port designation of the three ports including Gyeongryeolbido without fail, and do our best to ensure that the ports are systematically developed according to regional demand and purpose."

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