Daepo Port in Sokcho Tops National Hub Fishing Port Project Competition; 95 Billion Won to Build Seafood Logistics Hub

Daepo Port in Gangwon Province Scores Highest Among 11 Applicant Ports Nationwide

Seafood Distribution Center and Cold Chain Network to Be Built

Fishing Vessel Berthing Facilities to Be Expanded and Waterfront Spaces Created

Design Work to Begin This Year; Youth Rental Housing Also Planned

Daepo Port in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, ranked first among 11 ports nationwide in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' competition for its National Hub Fishing Port Development Project. With a total project budget of 95 billion won, the plan will expand seafood distribution facilities and berthing facilities for fishing vessels, and create marine waterfront spaces for visitors.

Bird's-eye view of the draft master plan for developing Daepo Port as a national hub fishing port. Provided by Gangwon Province.

The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province said on November 12 that Daepo Port received the highest score in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' final evaluation.

After conducting document-based and on-site evaluations in July, the ministry selected Daepo Port in Sokcho, Janggo Port in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, and Seomang Port in Jindo, South Jeolla Province, as candidate sites. It then conducted a comprehensive assessment of the validity of the project plans, site conditions, and expected impact. Daepo Port was the only one of the three candidate sites to secure a related budget this year, allowing design work to begin.

A Fisheries Products Processing and Distribution Center (FPC) will be built at Daepo Port. A cold chain will also be established to keep seafood at low temperatures from auction and distribution through storage and transport. The plan includes expanding berthing facilities for fishing vessels, modernizing safety facilities, and providing marine waterfront spaces and tourist amenities.

A separate 10 billion won project to create a "Youth Seaside Village" has also been included in the basic plan for the hub fishing port. The project will build rental housing for young people and shared facilities for residents, and link jobs with fishing skills training to help young people settle in fishing villages.

During the bidding process, Gangwon Province and Sokcho City explained to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and other relevant government agencies the port's site conditions and its role as a seafood logistics hub. The province plans to use the project to develop Daepo Port into an East Coast hub that fosters both seafood logistics and marine tourism.

Provincial Governor Woo Sangho said, "Daepo Port's selection as the top-ranked site with the highest score nationwide, after fierce competition among 11 fishing ports, shows that the government recognizes Gangwon Province's capabilities in marine and fisheries affairs and Daepo Port's future potential. Building on this achievement, we will drive innovation at Daepo Port and lead a new leap forward for Gangwon's East Coast."

He added, "We will press ahead with the 95 billion won project to raise Daepo Port's industrial competitiveness and establish it as a sustainable maritime economic hub where fisheries and tourism grow together."

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