Jae-Gak Lee, Jindo County Mayor, Mobilizes Full Efforts for Seomang Port National Fishing Port Expansion at Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

Selection for National Hub Fishing Port and Fisheries New Deal 3.0 Initiatives

Jindo County, located in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, is accelerating its bid to become the central hub of the fisheries economy in the southwestern coastal region. The county is working to persuade the central government by visiting the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to expedite key marine and fisheries agenda items such as the expansion of Seomang Port as a national fishing port and the development of a national hub fishing port.

The county announced that, on July 21, County Mayor Jae-Gak Lee visited the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to request governmental attention and active support for several initiatives, including the Seomang Port National Fishing Port Expansion Project, the National Hub Fishing Port Development Project, and the Bocheon Port, Maengseong Port, and Dangdo Port applications for the "Fisheries New Deal 3.0" public competition project.

On the 21st, Jaegak Lee, the governor of Jindo County, visited the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and provided explanations about local pending projects. Provided by Jindo County

County Mayor Lee first proposed that the Seomang Port National Fishing Port Expansion Project be included in the revised national fishing port development plan, so it can be implemented at an early date.

Although Seomang Port has grown into the nation’s largest blue crab producing area, and serves as a vital production and distribution base for fisheries on the southwestern coast, the increase in number and size of fishing vessels has outpaced the development of berthing and refuge facilities, creating urgent needs for improvements in safety and logistics capabilities.

He emphasized the importance of expanding breakwaters and small vessel docks to secure the port’s safety functions and further strengthen its production and distribution capacities, noting the need for national-level support for these enhancements.

He also actively promoted the Seomang Port National Hub Fishing Port Development Project, which entails a total budget of 64.5 billion won. This project aims not only to upgrade fishing port facilities and modernize auction houses but also to connect fish product storage, processing, and distribution facilities. The goal is to transform Seomang Port from a center focused solely on production and distribution into a fisheries economy hub port integrating storage, processing, distribution, and tourism for the southwestern coastline.

Additionally, County Mayor Lee conveyed the necessity of initiatives recently submitted for the Fisheries New Deal 3.0 (Fisheries Restoration) competition, specifically the projects for Bocheon Port, Maengseong Port, and Dangdo Port.

The Bocheon Port project involves an investment of 10 billion won to expand the Fishing Village Station and fishing port facilities, thereby improving the living service infrastructure. The Maengseong Port and Dangdo Port projects aim to enhance local specialties’ storage, processing, and distribution capabilities and upgrade fishing port functions, with the overall goal of sustaining fishing villages and increasing resident incomes.

The county explained to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries that both projects are essential to achieve balanced regional development and strengthen the competitiveness of fishing communities, while also requesting their selection for public support grants.

During this visit, a new policy initiative entitled the "Youth Fishing Village Project" was also proposed to create a foundation for attracting young fishers.

The purpose is to address the aging population in fishing villages and promote sustainable communities by establishing stable residential and living environments for youth. It is reported that Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries officials also recognized the need for the project and expressed a positive willingness to provide support.

The county expects that, if all the proposed initiatives are implemented, a new growth axis will emerge around Seomang Port as the national fishing port, connecting Jindo Port and the surrounding areas into the southwestern coastal fisheries economic hub. This would not only encompass fishery production, storage, processing, distribution, and export, but also integrate marine tourism.

County Mayor Jae-Gak Lee stated, "Seomang Port has already become a nationwide hub for fisheries production and distribution. Going forward, it must also take a leap forward as Korea's leading fisheries economy hub port, equipped with storage, processing, and distribution functions. We will work closely with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to ensure young fishers can settle in Jindo through the Youth Fishing Village Project."

He added, "We will continue close consultation with the central government to ensure the timely and smooth implementation of the national fishing port expansion project, the National Hub Fishing Port Development Project, the Fisheries New Deal 3.0, and the youth fishers intake initiative, thereby further strengthening Jindo's marine and fisheries competitiveness."

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