Saemangeum New Port Jurisdiction Assigned to Gunsan…Gimje Expected to Oppose

Kim Euigyeom: "Grateful to the Central Dispute Committee for Their Unanimous Decision"

Attention Now on Gimje City's Response and Possible Further Legal Actions

The jurisdiction over Saemangeum New Port has been decided in favor of Gunsan City. As Gimje City, which has been competing with Gunsan for jurisdiction, is expected to strongly oppose the decision, there is a growing possibility that intergovernmental conflict among local governments in the Saemangeum area may flare up again.

Kim Euigyeom, a National Assembly member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on his Facebook page on the 4th that "the jurisdiction over Saemangeum New Port has been assigned to Gunsan," adding that it was "the result of combined wishes of Gunsan citizens."

Assemblyman Kim stated, "Because I understood Gunsan residents' earnest desire, both Mayor Kim Jaejun and I did our utmost," and continued, "I would also like to thank the members of the Central Dispute Resolution Committee for reaching a reasonable and unanimous conclusion despite many difficulties." He further assessed that the decision means Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan should overcome conflicts in the future and work together for the development of Saemangeum.

Assemblyman Kim also said, "The unanimous decision probably carries a message that Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan should unite as one and develop Saemangeum together," referring to his sponsorship of the Saemangeum Special Autonomous Government Act as Bill No. 1 of the 22nd National Assembly. He emphasized, "I will do my best so that, through the Saemangeum Union, we can eventually become an integrated city," and added, "I will strive for a greater Saemangeum where Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan are not divided."

However, it remains uncertain whether Gimje City, which has strongly opposed the decision throughout the jurisdiction process, will accept the outcome as it is.

Before the committee's decision, Gimje City launched a last-ditch effort to secure jurisdiction. On the 3rd, Mayor Jeong Seongju of Gimje held a resolution rally at the Second Saemangeum Embankment, even shaving his head to call for a fair review process.

Mayor Jeong asserted that "Saemangeum New Port is an absolutely crucial area directly linked to the future of Gimje," arguing that "the jurisdiction decision should be sufficiently verified and made in accordance with laws and principles, leaving no room for any doubt, and handled with fairness and responsibility."

Saemangeum New Port is scheduled to open this year, and is being developed into an integrated port with ten berths capable of accommodating 50,000-ton-class vessels, as well as serving as a hub for marine tourism and leisure. The jurisdiction over the new port has been a key issue for both Gunsan and Gimje, as it directly affects future port development, administrative and fiscal authority, and regional development strategies.

With the Central Dispute Resolution Committee's decision, the legal and administrative controversy over jurisdiction of Saemangeum New Port is expected to be settled, at least for now. However, given that Gimje City had even resorted to a head-shaving protest right up to the decision point, there is considerable attention on how they will respond and whether additional legal actions may follow.

In particular, as the dispute over jurisdiction among Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan in the Saemangeum area has been ongoing, the challenge now is how to resolve these local conflicts and channel them into joint development for the region, following this decision.

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