Gochang-gun Applies for 2022 Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project Competition

[Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] On the 27th, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk announced that it has applied for two districts, Sangpo District (Sangpopogu) and Hajun District (Yonggipogu), in next year's Fishing Village New Deal 300 project.

The county plans to ensure the success of this fishing village new deal to practice carbon neutrality, respond to climate change, and develop the West Coast marine tourism hub area.

Earlier, since March, the county formed a local council promotion committee and held several residents' briefings and local council advisory meetings.

Through this, they not only collected residents' opinions but also established a solid business plan based on the opinions of related experts.

In Buan-myeon Sangpo District, they will create a carbon-neutral botanical garden, carbon-zero foot bath experience center, carbon-neutral camping site, mudflat small park, and carbon-neutral bicycle rest area.

Following the Gochang mudflats, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage and Ramsar Wetland, which is a carbon sink, they will practice carbon neutrality under the concept called "Sangpo Yeonga" to respond to climate change.

In Simwon-myeon Hajun District, they will create a multipurpose experience space linked to the Gochang (Hajun) mudflats, which account for 50% of the nation's clams, and the Hajun mudflat experience village.

They will restore Jwachinaruteo, a ferry site used from the Joseon Dynasty to the Korean War in the tidal area of the Incheon River where seawater and freshwater meet, to develop differentiated content.

In particular, they plan to specialize Hajun District as a tourism product where urban visitors can rest and experience simultaneously, developing it as a coastal tourism hub area on the West Coast.

Despite poor local financial conditions, the county has successfully promoted the fishing village new deal project by securing 40.4 billion won in project costs for four districts: Dongho Port in 2019, Jukdo Port and Gwangseung Port last year, and Goripo area this year.

County Governor Yu Gisang said, "During the remaining period, we will faithfully prepare for the written and on-site evaluations conducted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and do our best to ensure that both of the two sites applied for the '2022 Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project' are selected by mobilizing all administrative power."

Meanwhile, the Fishing Village New Deal 300 project, led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, is a project that drives the modernization of about 300 fishing villages and ports nationwide, suitable for the era of 30,000-dollar national income, to revitalize marine tourism and promote innovative growth of fishing villages.

Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil gjg7070@asiae.co.kr