Assemblyman Joo Chul-hyun: "Government's Uneven Port Investment Threatens Maritime Traffic Safety"

Yeosu Industrial Complex Wharf Congestion Rate 27%... Busan 0.28%, Ulsan 1.78%, Incheon 0.75%

Government 3rd National Port Investment Scale → Busan Port > Ulsan Port > Incheon Port > Yeosu Gwangyang Port Order

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek] Concerns have been raised that the government's imbalanced investment in ports could affect maritime traffic safety, including severe port congestion rates and a decrease in cargo volume.

According to Joo Chul-hyun, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee (Democratic Party, Yeosu City Gap, Jeonnam), the average congestion rate at four piers (Jungheung, Nakpo, Sapo, Petrochemical) within the Jeonnam Yeosu Petrochemical National Complex from 2016 to June 2021 was 26.68%.

During the same period, major national ports in Korea showed much lower congestion rates: Busan Port at 0.28%, Ulsan Port at 1.75%, and Incheon Port at 0.75%, indicating that the Yeosu National Complex petrochemical piers have congestion rates 20 to 40 times higher.

The severe port congestion rate is inversely proportional to the government's port investment.

In fact, under the 3rd National Port Basic Plan (2011?2020), investment in Yeosu Gwangyang Port was only 25% of Busan Port's 4.288 trillion KRW, 61% of Incheon Port's 1.789 trillion KRW, and 60% of Ulsan Port's 1.799 trillion KRW.

This investment imbalance is also evident in the 4th National Port Basic Plan.

In the government's 4th National Port Basic Plan (2021?2030), which started this year, investment in Yeosu Gwangyang Port is only 40% of Busan Port's investment amount of 5.242 trillion KRW.

The government's investment imbalance toward Yeosu Gwangyang Port is threatening not only the severe congestion rate at the Yeosu National Complex petrochemical piers but also maritime traffic safety.

According to the 'Yeosu Gwangyang Port Route Safety Review' conducted by the Yeosu Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office last year, the maritime traffic congestion during peak times at the Yeosu National Complex petrochemical piers (current/5 years later) is predicted to worsen: Yulchon 2 Complex from 52.83% to 137.41%, Route 2 from 106.6% to 112.7%, Route 3 from 110% to 121%, and Route 4 from 110.6% to 129.7%.

Following the government's investment imbalance, the imbalance within the region is also severe.

Although the Yeosu National Complex petrochemical piers account for 48% of Yeosu Gwangyang Port's cargo volume, only 18.4 billion KRW, which is 10% of the total investment project cost of 171.4 billion KRW over the past nine years since the establishment of Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, has been invested.

Assemblyman Joo Chul-hyun pointed out, "The imbalance in port investment by the government and related local institutions is worsening the congestion rate at the Yeosu National Complex petrochemical piers and threatening maritime traffic safety of vessels," and urged, "Active investment and support are needed for pier expansion to resolve cargo ship congestion and to foster new growth engines."

He added, "Government investment is necessary to expand and deepen the Myodo Channel route, which currently operates only in one direction," emphasizing, "It is time for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to proactively undertake studies and project investments to resolve the raised issues."

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek simkt7@asiae.co.kr

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