[Column] "Jinhae New Port: Beyond Boundary Disputes to a Northeast Asia Port Special Zone"

The maritime boundary is not merely a line on a map. It is a legal demarcation that defines a nation's maritime sovereignty and economic rights, as well as a standard for vessel navigation and safety. It also serves as a practical dividing line that extends the living sphere of residents through fisheries, military operations, and environmental management.

International maritime law sets the territorial sea at 12 nautical miles and the exclusive economic zone at 200 nautical miles, and stipulates that, in cases of overlap, boundaries must be determined through negotiation. The maritime boundary is not just a line; it is a watershed that divides the interests of nations, regions, and residents.

Park Chunduk, Director of Gyeongsangnam-do Youth Support Foundation.

The Jinhae New Port is a representative example showing that maritime boundaries do not necessarily coincide with land boundaries. Administratively, it belongs to Jinhae in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, but legally, it is designated as part of Busan New Port and is managed by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Busan Port Authority. Originally, it was part of the Jinhae Port area, but as part of a national strategy to develop large-scale container terminals, it was integrated into Busan Port.

As a result, Changwon City faces limitations in tax revenue and administrative influence, while residents find themselves in the unique situation of having their own sea under the port brand of another local government. As maritime boundaries are newly drawn based on national strategy and economic efficiency, the rights and identity of the region have been pushed aside.

Busan has already expanded its city limits in the past by incorporating parts of Gimhae County, Yangsan County, and even Gijang-myeon. These measures were taken to secure industrial sites and improve transportation networks, in line with national needs. Therefore, it is highly likely that Jinhae will follow a similar path in the future.

If the logic of integration, prioritizing the efficiency of ports, railways, and road networks, gains momentum, Jinhae could be absorbed into Busan, resulting in its history and identity being divided. However, maritime boundaries cannot be explained solely by efficiency. The living sphere of residents and historical legitimacy must also be respected as important values.

The success of national strategic ports is ultimately possible only when balanced with local autonomy. While it is inevitable for the central government to play a leading role in port construction and management, sustainable development will be difficult if the region is marginalized and its identity is damaged in the process. Ports are not simply logistics hubs; they are spaces where the lives, culture, and future of local residents coexist.

Therefore, the issue of maritime boundaries should not be a matter of simply drawing lines, but rather the result of political consensus that adjusts the roles and powers of central and local governments.

Now is the time to move beyond boundaries of conflict and seek a framework for cooperation. The solution is to designate the Jinhae and Gangseo-gu areas as an independent Northeast Asian port special zone. Just as Sejong and Jeju opened new models of autonomy through special laws, these areas can be designated as a port special self-governing district or a special self-governing city.

Through a one-point integration of Gangseo-gu and Jinhae-gu, it would be possible to efficiently manage a national strategic port while preserving regional identity. Decision-making would be expedited, and the city brand would gain global competitiveness. Both Busan and Changwon would share the benefits, and Jinhae could maintain its unique history and identity while enjoying the fruits of port development.

The maritime boundary should not merely be a dividing line, but a line that opens the future. While prioritizing national interests, a balanced solution that respects local lives and rights is necessary. Jinhae New Port delivers an important message: the path to becoming the best port special zone in Northeast Asia, beyond boundary disputes, is the choice that will benefit the nation, the region, and all residents.

Park Chunduk, Director (Gyeongsangnam-do Youth Support Foundation)

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