Mokpo Port, Aiming to Become a 'Beautiful Port' as a Logistics and Marine Tourism Leisure Hub in the Southwest Region

[Interview] Kim Sam-yeol, Former Director of Mokpo Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Administration

Port Activation Needed to Drive Regional Economy as Northeast Asia Logistics Hub

Government Interest Important... Local Governments' Ro

Kim Sam-yeol, former Director of Mokpo Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office, is discussing the necessary points for the development of Mokpo.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Hyeong-seok] Mokpo opened its port in 1897 and this year marks the 125th anniversary of its opening. Although it was gained through a history of exploitation during the Japanese colonial period, it rapidly grew to be one of the six major cities nationwide. However, after liberation, it is now facing threats even as the number one city in Jeollanam-do due to regional and political limitations.

In this regard, we discussed the problems of Mokpo and directions for improvement with Kim Sam-yeol, former Director of Mokpo Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office and chairman of the Mokpo City Transition Committee for the 8th local government.

▶ Mokpo Port is approaching its 130th anniversary, but it is considered the most underdeveloped port in the country. What is your view?

= Mokpo Port opened in 1897 as one of the three major domestic ports, but during the industrialization era, the southwestern region of Jeollanam-do was neglected, and compared to Busan, Ulsan, Pyeongtaek, Gwangyang, and Gunsan ports, it has not escaped stagnation. In the future, due to the limitations of local industrial forces vulnerable to attracting port cargo, the outlook is not bright.

Ports serve as hubs for cargo distribution, with functions expanding beyond loading, storage, and processing to include assembly, processing, packaging, and manufacturing, creating added value. Their activity range also extends to industrial complexes and hinterland cities, playing a central role in regional economic activities by revitalizing various industries such as production, finance, and tourism.

The future Mokpo Port must actively respond to changes in the goods logistics environment, shifting toward the Northeast Asian Yellow Sea region, including China, which is growing into an economic powerhouse. Based on the abundant marine tourism resources of the southwestern region, it should grow into a hub port for tourism and logistics, leading the advent of the new marine tourism era of the 21st century.

▶ There is divided public opinion regarding the use of the Samhakdo pier. What is your opinion?

= The outer pier of Samhakdo is planned to maintain its cargo pier function until 2030 according to the national port basic plan, aligned with Mokpo City's plan to turn Samhakdo into a park, and thereafter, the pier function is to be abolished.

Contrary to Mokpo City's request to reflect the creation of marine-friendly spaces like Bukhang Sunset Park in the 4th Port Basic Plan for the Samhak pier, whose pier function will be closed, the government, which manages the property, proceeded with the Nuri Park project and hotel attraction without any consultation.

Since national property is transferred to the Asset Management Corporation under the Ministry of Strategy and Finance for sale procedures once its use is abolished, this was an unpredictable matter and difficult to accept.

Samhakdo, along with Udalsan, is a symbol of Mokpo and a landmark filled with the joys and sorrows of Mokpo citizens. Considering this, it should be returned to the citizens in a friendly manner by providing facilities such as a children's park, marine theme facilities, beach cafes, train cafes, beach plazas, cultural exhibition facilities, and garden exhibition halls.

Personally, considering the poor condition of Mokpo Port's piers, there is also a need to publicize the idea of redeveloping the current pier for use as a cruise pier.

▶ Samhakdo is the world's only island created by digging waterways on reclaimed land, but it is criticized for poor accessibility. What are your thoughts?

= Assuming the pier function is abolished and Samhakdo is developed into a citizen-friendly park, facilities such as rail bikes from Mokpo Station to Samhakdo are needed to enhance accessibility. Especially, to revitalize food markets like Dongmyeong-dong Fisheries Complex Market, a pedestrian bridge connecting Dongmyeong-dong and Samhakdo could be installed to facilitate access for citizens and tourists.

Additionally, constructing a bridge connecting Samhakdo and Yeongam Daebul Industrial Complex to promote tourism in the southwestern region and disperse traffic would improve accessibility between Mokpo and Yeongam, contributing to the development of the southwestern region.

▶ How is the utilization of Namhang?

= The last remaining vacant land in Mokpo is the Namhang reclamation site. Namhang is located between the old and new downtown areas and is the only place that can connect the old and new city centers.

During my tenure at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office, I made various efforts to develop this area in a way that benefits Mokpo City, but unfortunately, no significant results were achieved.

Personally, I think it would be desirable to develop it as a marine tourism forward base and in connection with residential demand to revitalize the old downtown. This could include building a 5-star hotel with large-scale convention functions, attracting private investments for amusement parks and fisheries-related sales outlets, and introducing waterfront spaces and marine leisure facilities along the coastal belt from Peace Plaza, Gatbawi, to Namhang to activate marine tourism. Establishing a research complex that can become a mecca for eco-friendly ships would also be beneficial.

I hope this last remaining area in Mokpo is developed in a way that promotes the city's development and improves citizens' quality of life.

▶ How about the utilization of Bukhang?

= The development of Bukhang is still incomplete. Initially, the government planned to develop Bukhang as a complex port for marine fisheries tourism, but although some fisheries functions were secured with the relocation of the Fisheries Cooperative, there has been no progress in marine tourism.

Therefore, to develop fisheries, attracting a freezing plant is necessary, and to revitalize Sunset Park, a waterside deck facility should be installed under the park to develop it as a fishing spot.

Also, dividing Bukhang into four zones?commercial facility district, amusement facility district, sports facility district, and other facilities district?and developing it with specialty food villages, specialty product shops, mini trains, park golf courses, reed wetlands, and waterways would help Bukhang establish itself as a mecca for marine, fisheries, and tourism.

▶ What about the still underdeveloped Shinwoehang?

= Due to the absence of industries centered around Mokpo Port, it has been difficult to secure cargo volume, and pier development has not progressed.

Shinwoehang was originally planned to develop 22 berths and build about three manufacturing complexes nearby, but with the cancellation of national industrial complexes one after another, the pier function of Shinwoehang has also been reduced. Furthermore, despite expectations raised by the government's renewable energy policy and Jeollanam-do's offshore wind power promotion, this project is also stagnant and in a dire state.

To address this, Jeollanam-do is actively promoting offshore wind power as part of its ambitious Jeonnam-type job project, so the dredged soil disposal site and reserved port development land must be developed promptly.

Additionally, continuous requests for government support are necessary to ensure the smooth establishment of the offshore wind power complex.

▶ Lastly, any final remarks?

= Mokpo is a port city. Cities with developed ports are wealthy cities. The cases of Busan, Incheon, Ulsan, Gwangyang, Pyeongtaek, and Gunsan ports prove this. Mokpo's new growth engine lies in marine ports and the sea's resources.

For Mokpo Port to stand tall as a Northeast Asian logistics hub and drive the regional economy, port revitalization is absolutely necessary.

Without local government interest and active will, port development cannot happen. Government interest is important, but the role and attention of local governments come first. Requests must be made for review and government funding to be allocated.

I hope Mokpo Port will leap forward as a beautiful port serving as the logistics and marine tourism leisure hub of the southwestern region in the 21st century through the interest of Mokpo City.

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