As the development of the Masan Marine New City site, an artificial island the size of 90 soccer fields, has been stalled for several years, civic organizations have called on the new government to be launched after the upcoming presidential election to resolve the issue.
Masan YMCA and the Changwon Water Life Citizens' Coalition made this demand at a press conference held at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Press Center on the 22nd.
They proposed that the artificial island in Masan Bay be developed and utilized as public land.
Masan YMCA and Changwon Water Life Citizens' Coalition are holding a press conference urging the government to resolve the development of the artificial island in Masanhappo-gu, Changwon. Photo by Se Ryeong Lee
The organizations stated, "Let us turn this 640,000 square meter blank canvas into public land for current and future citizens, and create a marine nature park beyond imagination for any city."
They added, "If this is realized, it will become an exemplary case in responding to regional stagnation and demographic changes. The positive impact on citizens' lives will be significant, and it will also greatly influence people’s choice of residence."
"If leisure facilities for citizens, such as a park golf course, are established on the artificial island, visitors will also frequent nearby shopping areas, revitalizing the local economy including the fish market and surrounding businesses. If the artificial island, which is connected to Masan Marine Nuri Park and close to Dotseom, is properly developed, it will be possible to create an amazing environment and amusement park never seen before," they said.
The artificial island in Masanhappo-gu, Changwon, covers an area of 642,167 square meters and is considered the largest artificial island in South Korea.
It was completed at the end of 2019 through an agreement between the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Changwon City (formerly Masan City) in November 2003, and was created by reclaiming land with dredged soil generated during the construction of Gapo New Port.
Changwon City announced and pursued the Masan Marine New City development plan to build a marine new city on this artificial island. However, the project has been adrift for six years, facing difficulties such as lawsuits during five rounds of public offerings for private developers since 2015.
The organizations claimed that in 1997, the government predicted through the Masan Bay Metropolitan Development Master Plan that the cargo volume at Masan Port would increase by about 3.5 times in 20 years, necessitating a port capable of accommodating 30,000-ton vessels. However, the actual cargo volume fell short of this projection.
As of 2024, the total project cost for the construction of Masan Marine New City is 383.5 billion won, of which 99.4 billion won is real estate project financing (PF) loans. As a result, it is reported that Changwon City pays more than 200 million won in interest every month.
Heo Jungdo, Honorary Director of Masan YMCA, and others are delivering a policy proposal regarding the Masan Bay artificial island to the election strategy offices of the Gyeongsangnam-do Democratic Party and the Gyeongsangnam-do People Power Party. Provided by Masan YMCA
The organizations argued, "Gapo New Port was established based on fabricated and manipulated cargo volume estimates," and urged, "The government should take responsibility and return the Masan Bay artificial island to the citizens as a public space."
They also appealed, "We ask all elected officials, including National Assembly members chosen by Changwon citizens, to make every political effort, beyond party lines, so that the next government resolves this issue."
After the press conference, the organizations delivered a policy proposal, including suggestions for the use of the artificial island as public land, to the Gyeongnam election committees of four parties: the Democratic Party of Korea, the People Power Party, the Reform Party, and the Democratic Labor Party.
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