Civil Groups Demand Reduction of Land Reclamation Scale at Jinhae New Port

Preliminary Feasibility Study Verification and Reassessment of Area and Shape

The National Solidarity to Stop the Jinhae Bay Reclamation held a press conference regarding the preliminary feasibility study for the first phase construction of Jinhae New Port. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Se-ryeong] The National Coalition to Stop the Reclamation of Jinhae Bay has verified the process of passing the preliminary feasibility study for the first phase of the Jinhae New Port construction project and urged a readjustment of the reclamation scale.

The coalition held a press conference at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government press room on the 9th, stating, "The preliminary feasibility study results released last July revealed that the project failed the first preliminary feasibility study and passed the second by reducing the project scale," and criticized, "The number of berths was reduced from the initial 15 to 9, which is a practice of project segmentation."

They added, "In the second phase, the port cost-benefit ratio was 0.97, failing to exceed the economic evaluation criterion of 1, indicating a lack of economic feasibility. However, the project justification was secured through an AHP comprehensive evaluation conducted by a few experts," and questioned, "Is it appropriate for a national project worth 7 trillion won to have its feasibility decided by just a few experts?"

In the first phase, it was judged that cargo volume would significantly decrease due to the cabotage exemption allowing foreign shipping companies to operate transshipment for China's coastal port import and export cargo, but in the second phase, the analysis assumed minimal changes in cargo volume.

They also stated that the project evaluation was limited to the surrounding waters of Busan New Port and Jinhae New Port and did not consider environmental pollution impacts on the entire Jinhae Bay.

They raised concerns about marine environmental changes such as seawater flow and increased pollution vulnerability, the movement of operating shipping companies from Busan North Port and Gamcheon Port to Jinhae Bay, and potential marine damage including the destruction of fish and seafood spawning grounds.

It was also projected that the cement and ready-mixed concrete used in constructing Jinhae New Port would emit about 6 million tons of carbon, exceeding Changwon City's annual carbon emissions of 8.96 million tons as of 2019.

On this day, the coalition called for ▲ verification of the preliminary feasibility study process and reinvestigation of errors ▲ joint public-private verification of the entire preliminary feasibility study process ▲ readjustment of project area and reclamation form.

They argued that resolving local residents' complaints about the Jinhae New Port project, consulting with the Jinhae Naval Base, preparing measures to mitigate environmental damage, and analyzing China's cabotage policy implemented for its own vessels are necessary.

They said, "If the project scale is reduced to meet economic feasibility, it is common sense to minimize the reclamation scale and reduce the impact on the entire Jinhae Bay," and added, "It is unacceptable to plan the development of 9 berths in a way that preempts the space for the existing 21 berths."

The Busan Port Jinhae New Port construction project is a national project with a total budget of 15 trillion won to be invested by 2040 and is considered a core project of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) Mega City.

Over three phases, a breakwater 3.20 km, a berth facility with 21 berths 8.34 km, a port hinterland complex, port transportation facilities, and environmental improvement facilities will be constructed in the Jinhae-gu area of Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province.

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