Changwon Hosts Grand Debate on Enactment of 'Special Act for Mutual Development of New Port and Surrounding Areas'

Discussion on Enacting a Special Act for Co-Development with Local Residents and Fishermen Due to Environmental Changes from Port Construction in Jinhae Area

A grand debate on the enactment of the "Special Act for the Mutual Development of New Port and Surrounding Areas" was held at the Yi Sun-sin Leadership International Center in Jinhae-gu, Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Song Jong-gu] A grand forum was held in Changwon, Gyeongnam to promote mutual development between local residents and fishermen in response to environmental changes caused by port construction in the Jinhae area.

On the 26th at 2 p.m., Lee Dal-gon, a member of the People Power Party on the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, hosted a grand forum on the enactment of the "Special Act for the Mutual Development of the New Port and Surrounding Areas" at the Yi Sun-sin Leadership International Center (Hansan Hall) in Jinhae-gu, Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam.

At the forum, Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Song Sang-geun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Kim Byung-gyu, Deputy Governor for Economy of Gyeongsangnam-do, also attended, responding to the strong local enthusiasm for the enactment of the special law and lending their support.

The forum began with presentations titled “A New Shift in Port Policy: Coexistence of Ports and Cities” by Song Hyo-jin (Associate Research Fellow at Gwangju Jeonnam Research Institute) and “Mutual Development of the New Port and Its Surrounding Areas” by Choi Hwan-yong (Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Legislation Research Institute), focusing on the responsibilities and support for surrounding areas in line with changes in the times and port development.

Participants in the forum’s discussion, including representatives from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Busan Port Authority, Jinhae Marine Port Development Council, Korea Maritime Institute, Changwon City Research Institute, and the National Assembly Legislative Office, debated the roles of the national government and local governments for the mutual development of ports and regions.

At this meeting, there was deep consensus that regional coexistence is essential for sustainable and future-oriented port development, and they agreed to join forces to prepare necessary measures.

In his congratulatory speech, Mayor Hong said, “The upcoming Jinhae New Port is an essential facility for the development of our country, but the negative impacts such as environmental damage have become problems that Changwon City, located in the hinterland, must bear.” He added, “To achieve harmonious development between the port and the city, we will do our best to ensure that this forum leads to legislation, and we will also strive to create jobs by fostering high value-added port logistics manufacturing industries, including expanding the port hinterland logistics complex for the economic development of Changwon City.”