Kickoff Meeting for Pohang City Task Force to Promote Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Contest Project
80 Billion KRW in New Private Investment, 20 Billion KRW in Government and Local Funds,
Two Sites to Be Selected Nationwide
Pohang City is actively transitioning from an industrial city to a global marine leisure tourism hub.
On the 26th, the city held a kickoff meeting for the task force to realize the ‘Global Complex Marine Leisure Tourism City Pohang’ at the Dream Start Office in City Hall.
On the 26th, Pohang City held a working-level task force meeting at City Hall to realize the "Global Complex Marine Leisure Tourism City Pohang." Photo by Pohang City
The meeting was attended by 15 major departments to review the progress of attracting the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries-led ‘Complex Marine Leisure Tourism City’ public contest project and to discuss concrete implementation plans.
This contest project aims to create a marine leisure tourism hub through financial support linked with private investment in regions where marine leisure tourism functions are concentrated.
It is a large-scale project with a total financial support of 200 billion KRW, matching 80 billion KRW in new private investment within the region, 10 billion KRW in national funds, and 10 billion KRW in local funds. Two sites nationwide will be selected as project locations by June this year.
The city plans to utilize this to establish a landmark-type global marine tourism base centered on the Yeongilman Tourism Special Zone in the downtown area, integrating marine leisure, tourism, and MICE industries.
By 2040, with a budget of 1 trillion KRW, the city intends to maximize synergy with large-scale financial and private investment projects such as the construction of the Pohang International Exhibition & Convention Center (POEX), Yeongilman Bridge, and attracting luxury hotels to Yeongildae and Hwanho Park.
Additionally, by combining various marine leisure sports and tourism functions such as surfing, yachting, and cruises, the city aims to develop unique venues and establish itself as the ‘center of the era of 10 million tourists’ where private investment and excellent human resources are concentrated.
Heo Jeong-wook, Director of the Urban Safety and Housing Bureau, said, “We will promote large-scale financial and private projects centered on the Yeongilman Tourism Special Zone and maximize Pohang’s strengths as the optimal location for a complex marine leisure tourism city. Together with the task force, we will devote all efforts to achieving the final goal through systematic preparation from the selection stage of the contest project.”
Pohang is gaining attention as a mecca for various marine leisure sports such as yachting, canoeing, sea swimming, and surfing.
Not only is Yonghan Surfer Beach, one of the top three surfing spots nationwide, but also the city boasts abundant infrastructure such as the Marine Sports Academy, Water Leisure Town, and Rowing License Test Center, and is recognized for its competitiveness as an international cruise ship and Ulleung cruise port of call.
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