Sacheon’s Oceans Herald Change Across Fishing Villages, Environment, and Tourism

Large-scale Investments in Fishing Village and National Port Projects

Strengthening Fisheries Competitiveness and Improving the Marine Environment

Jukbangnyeom Designated as National Important Fishery Heritage; Gwangpo Bay as Wetland Protection Area

Laying the Foundation for Conservation and Utilization of Marine Resources

Sacheon City, located in South Gyeongsang Province, is actively promoting projects in the marine and fisheries sector, with a particular focus on improving the residential environment of fishing villages, strengthening the competitiveness of the fisheries industry, conserving the marine environment, and revitalizing marine tourism.

Since the launch of the eighth popularly elected administration, the city has expanded investment in fishing villages and ports through governmental project bids and has also concentrated administrative resources on preserving and utilizing Sacheon's marine, ecological, and cultural assets.

Through initiatives such as the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project and the National Fishing Port Development Project, the city is improving the living environment and basic infrastructure in fishing villages. Simultaneously, support systems at fishery sites are being strengthened through measures such as the release of fishery seeds, collection of marine waste, and the construction of new fishing guidance vessels.

[Photo by Sacheon City] Sacheon City is undertaking various projects in the marine and fisheries sector, focusing on improving the living environment of fishing villages, enhancing the competitiveness of the fisheries industry, conserving the marine environment, and revitalizing marine tourism, thereby expanding the regional marine and fisheries infrastructure.

◆ Expansion of basic infrastructure through the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project and others

Sacheon City implemented the Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project, investing a total of 6,275 million won in the area around Gaetseom Port in Dapyeong-ri, Sopo-myeon.

Projects included the construction of a 90-meter breakwater, a 183.3-meter bridge, a 450-square-meter healing zone, and the remodeling of a community center, all aimed at improving living and residential conditions in the fishing village area. The city continues to achieve results through its efforts in public project bids under the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project.

In 2023, Gwangpo Port, Ando Port, and Sangchon Port were selected as project sites. In 2024, Jungchon Port was selected, and in 2025, Sinhyang Port at Samcheonpo Port was chosen. Each of Gwangpo Port and Ando Port received 10 billion won in funding, while Sangchon Port was allocated 5 billion won and Jungchon Port 10 billion won.

From 2025 to 2029, a total of 30 billion won will be invested in Sinhyang Port at Samcheonpo Port to build a marine and fisheries complex, a local food village, an administrative service center, a waterfront deck, landscape lighting, and more.

The city plans to transform fishing villages from areas solely focused on seafood production to spaces where living, employment, and tourism functions are integrated.

◆ Expanding the tourism infrastructure at Sinsu Port and Samcheonpo urban coastal areas

Infrastructure expansion is also underway at Sinsu Port. In April 2025, Sacheon City was selected for the “CLEAN National Fishing Port Development Project,” and from 2026 to 2029, it plans to invest a total of 19.1 billion won in creating Open Park and the Fishermen's Cultural Center.

This initiative envisions preserving the fishery function of the port while also providing spaces accessible to both residents and tourists. In Samcheonpo’s urban coastal area, the “Rainbow Bridge” project is being pursued to connect Nosan Park and Mokseom Island.

The project invests 8,975 million won to construct a 120-meter-long and 3-meter-wide overwater pedestrian bridge and a 128-meter-long access road, aiming to establish a new tourism route linking Samcheonpo’s city center with its coastal attractions.

◆ Jukbangnyeom designated as National Important Fishery Heritage

Changes are also underway to conserve Sacheon's traditional fishing culture and marine resources.

On November 29, 2024, 21 sites of the Samcheonpo Jukbangnyeom fishery were designated as the 16th National Important Fishery Heritage. Based on this designation, Sacheon City has secured 700 million won in funding over three years to preserve and utilize Jukbangnyeom’s traditional fishing techniques and related cultural resources.

The city is exploring ways to utilize Jukbangnyeom as a resource representing the region’s history and fishing culture and is considering its integration with tourism and cultural content.

◆ Gwangpo Bay mudflat designated as a wetland protection area: Conservation and utilization in progress

The 3.46-square-kilometer Gwangpo Bay mudflat, spanning Daejin-ri in Gonyang-myeon to Jodo-ri in Seopo-myeon, was designated as a wetland protection area in October 2023.

Sacheon City is working to conserve the biodiversity and mudflat ecosystem of Gwangpo Bay by establishing a resident-participatory management system and is considering its use for ecological education and experiential programs.

The city plans to invest a total of 45 billion won from 2025 to 2029 through the Marine Protected Area Management Project to sequentially establish a mudflat trail, visitor center, and experiential education facility.

◆ Strengthening marine environmental management and response capabilities at fishing sites

Efforts are also being made to enhance marine environmental management and response capabilities at fishing sites. Sacheon City has invested 3.8 billion won to build the 32-ton “Sacheonbada-ho” to replace outdated fishery guidance vessels.

The new guidance vessel, with a top speed of 30 knots and a capacity of up to 12 people, will be used for fishery guidance and administrative work at sea.

Projects are also being pursed to address marine litter. In connection with damage caused by heavy rainfall and water discharge from the Namgang Dam in July 2025, the city has secured 700 million won in national funding to collect and process approximately 300 tons of marine waste in three designated areas.

Additionally, from 2026 to 2027, the city plans to invest 3 billion won to build a 30-ton class environment-cleaning vessel to maintain clean maritime areas.

◆ Fostering fishery resources through the release of fishery seeds

The city has also implemented a fish seed release project to restore fishery resources and ensure a stable income base for fishermen. From 2022 to 2025, Sacheon City invested 2,365 million won to release a total of 15,853,000 fishery seeds—including rockfish and Sebastes schlegelii—into the local coastal and inland waters.

The city expects these efforts to contribute to the sustainable restoration of fishery resources and to help secure a stable income base for fishermen.

◆ Expanding into marine leisure and tourism

The city’s marine and fisheries projects are also expanding into the tourism and leisure sectors. Since 2023, Sacheon City has been hosting the Sacheon Mayor’s Cup Yacht Competition and running yacht boarding experiences for citizens and tourists, mainly around the offshore area in front of Gwangpo Port.

Upgrades such as new landscape lighting for the floating pier on the rainbow-colored coastal road have also been implemented. At Namildae Beach, 200 million won will be invested by July 2026 to create the “Amazing Elephant Trunk Fountain” and related landscape features.

Through these projects, Sacheon City intends to strengthen linkages among the main marine tourism resources, including Samcheonpo Port, Siran Coast, Namildae Beach, and Gwangpo Bay, and expand the base for stay-type tourism.

[Photo by Sacheon City] Sacheon City is advancing various projects in the marine and fisheries sector, focusing on improving the living environment of fishing villages, enhancing the competitiveness of the fishing industry, preserving the marine environment, and revitalizing marine tourism, thereby expanding the local marine and fisheries infrastructure.

◆ Project implementation and post-management tasks

Sacheon City’s projects in the marine and fisheries sector extend across expanding fishing village infrastructure, conserving the marine environment, managing fishery resources, and activating tourism.

However, to ensure that these large-scale national and provincial projects actually lead to vitalization of the local economy and increased income for residents, it is important to focus on facility operation and maintenance as well as expanding resident participation after project completion.

In particular, as the fishing village population continues to decrease and age, it is necessary not only to build facilities but also to establish operational plans that will facilitate continuous use, job creation, and an influx of tourists.

Sacheon City plans to steadily pursue ongoing projects such as the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project, CLEAN National Fishing Port Development Project, and Gwangpo Bay Marine Protected Area Management Project, while concurrently linking the conservation of the marine environment, strengthening fisheries competitiveness, and revitalizing marine tourism.

Park Dongsik, Mayor of Sacheon, stated, “We are simultaneously pursuing improvements in the residential environment of fishing villages, strengthening the competitiveness of the fisheries industry, conserving the marine environment, and revitalizing marine tourism. We will continuously monitor business implementation and post-management to ensure that ongoing projects yield tangible results for local residents and fishermen.”

Given the ongoing expansion of fishing village infrastructure and marine environmental conservation, as well as growing investment in the fisheries and tourism sectors, it will become increasingly important for project outcomes to lead to improved resident incomes and living environments. Continuous management and follow-up efforts are needed to ensure these projects go beyond just building facilities and deliver genuine economic effects to the region.

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