Pohang City Secures 21 Billion KRW in National Funding... Fisheries Village New Vitality Promotion Project

Final Selection of 4 Sites in Public Contest, Total Investment of 30 Billion KRW

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Pohang City announced on the 25th that four locations?Gupyeong-ri Port in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu; Igari Port in Cheongha-myeon, Buk-gu; Sinchang 1-ri Port in Janggi-myeon, Nam-gu; and Josari Port in Songra-myeon, Buk-gu?were finally selected in the ‘2023 Fisheries Village New Vitality Promotion Project’ contest hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, securing 21 billion KRW in national funding.

Sinchang 1-ri Port Project Plan.

The Fisheries Village New Vitality Promotion Project is a project aimed at improving residential conditions by supporting overall living platforms and safety infrastructure in poor fishing villages with limited jobs and poor access to living services, thereby reducing population outflow and revitalizing the influx of new personnel.

Gupyeong-ri Port and Igari Port were selected for the living platform creation project, with 7 billion KRW in national funds and 3 billion KRW in local funds invested in each port. A fisheries village anchor organization composed of residents and experts will cooperate to directly identify local issues on-site and devise solutions in connection with various local communities.

The goal is to raise the actual living and economic levels of fishing villages, not only reducing population outflow but also attracting new residents. At the primary living zone level (village unit), a fisheries village station will be established, and at the secondary living zone level (eup, myeon, dong unit), complex welfare services will be introduced.

At Gupyeong-ri Port, a new anchor organization project team will be established within the Gyeongbuk Province Neighboring Fisheries Village Support Center to provide fisheries village living zone guarantee services to local residents and induce outsiders to move to fishing villages, cooperating with Gyeongbuk Province to become a hub for attracting young fishing village residents.

Additionally, Igari Port in Cheongha-myeon plans to create a Sea Youth Playground to conduct marine and leisure experience education, aiming to continuously attract tourists rather than one-time visits.

Meanwhile, Sinchang 1-ri Port and Josari Port were selected for the safety infrastructure improvement project contest, with 3.5 billion KRW in national funds and 1.5 billion KRW in local funds to be invested in each port.

To improve ports and secure basic infrastructure for fishing activities, measures such as extending breakwaters, increasing quays, and reinforcing TTP will be implemented to secure calm water temperatures inside the ports against natural disasters like typhoons, high waves, and flooding. Additionally, roads in the hinterland villages will be maintained to ensure the basic living safety of fishing village residents.

Pohang City expects that if this Fisheries Village New Vitality Promotion Project is successfully implemented, it will dramatically improve residential conditions in fishing villages by providing customized living services and basic safety facilities, preventing population outflow and revitalizing local communities.

Mayor Kangdeok Lee said, “With the selection of this project, the residential conditions of the underdeveloped fishing villages will improve, and positive effects are expected on the local tourism industry utilizing abundant regional scenic resources. We will prevent the decline of the fishing village population and breathe new vitality through discovering new fisheries village projects and continuous investment.”