Gijang-gun Mundong Area Selected for the '2023 Fisheries Village New Vitality Promotion Project'

Improvement of Residential Environment and Job Creation

Establishment of Living and Economic Service Systems

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] A total project cost of 10 billion KRW will be invested in the ‘Gijang-gun Mundong Area’ to inject new vitality into the fishing village economy of Busan.

Busan City announced that the ‘Gijang-gun Mundong Area’ was finally selected in the government’s national agenda ‘2023 Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project’ contest.

Busan City 2023 Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project Target Area (Mundong District, Gijang-gun).

The ‘Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project’ is a project promoted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to improve the living and economic environment of underdeveloped fishing villages and to induce new personnel to settle in fishing villages, thereby revitalizing the fishing village economy. It consists of three types: ① Establishment of fishing village economic platforms ② Establishment of fishing village living platforms ③ Improvement of fishing village safety infrastructure.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to invest a total of 30 trillion KRW over five years until 2027 in 300 fishing village areas nationwide (Type ①: 25 places, Type ②: 175 places, Type ③: 100 places), and this year selected a total of 65 project sites nationwide (Type ①: 5 places, Type ②: 30 places, Type ③: 30 places).

The ‘Gijang-gun Mundong Area,’ selected as a project site this year, was chosen under the ‘Establishment of Fishing Village Living Platforms’ type, as the city plans not only to improve the fishing port safety facilities in this area but also to designate the entire Ilgwang-eup, where this area is located, as a fishing village living zone.

With this selection, a total project cost of 10 billion KRW, including 7 billion KRW in national funds, will be invested in the ‘Gijang-gun Mundong Area,’ and Plan B Cultural Cooperative Arts Cooperative and Local by Local, which have extensive experience in urban regeneration projects, will jointly participate as fishing village anchor organizations in project implementation.

Through this project, the city plans to improve the residential environment centered on the Imrang, Mundong, and Chilam areas, establish living and economic service systems, present new possibilities for fishing villages within the city, activate this area as a representative tourist destination of Gijang, increase village income, and improve the quality of life of local residents.

To create a sustainable fishing village and fishing port, the city plans to work with Gijang-gun and the private sector (fishing village anchor organizations) to collect opinions from local residents, seek expert advice, and discover, provide, and operate living and economic services tailored to the characteristics of the region.

Kim Byung-gi, Director of the Marine Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau of Busan City, said, “We will carry out this Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project without delay to bring new vitality to the fishing village economy and realize a ‘prosperous fishing village’ and a ‘happy city Busan that empowers me.’”

Since 2019, Busan City has been investing a total project cost of 79.8 billion KRW in nine fishing ports through the ‘Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project’ until 2024, promoting improvements in fishing port safety facilities and resident income increase projects.