Chungnam Province Attracts Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Agency West Sea Branch to Naepo Innovation City

Chungnam Province to Open West Sea Branch of the Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Agency Next Month

Chungnam Provincial Government Building. / Provided by Chungnam Province

Chungnam Province has successfully attracted the West Sea Branch of the Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Agency, a public institution under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries responsible for projects such as fishing village and port development and management, as well as the preservation and utilization of fishing grounds.

On June 9, Chungnam Province announced that the Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Agency will establish the West Sea Branch next month and open its office in Naepo New Town.

Approximately 30 employees are expected to work at the West Sea Branch, which will be located in a commercial building near the Chungnam Provincial Office of Education in Naepo New Town.

Since the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration, the province has continuously engaged with the Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Agency to attract its headquarters. In February, the province shifted its strategy to first attract and establish the West Sea Branch, with the aim of subsequently attracting the headquarters.

In March, the province proposed the establishment of the West Sea Branch in Naepo New Town to the Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Agency, and in April, the agency decided to set up the branch.

This month, the province plans to sign a business agreement with the Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Agency and Hongseong County to attract the West Sea Branch. The agency is scheduled to hold an opening ceremony and begin full-scale operations next month.

Jeon Sangwook, Director of the Provincial Department of Oceans and Fisheries, emphasized, "Naepo New Town, as Chungnam's innovation city, offers the best accessibility to the Seoul metropolitan area among all innovation cities nationwide and has the best living conditions since the relocation of the provincial government."

An official in charge of attracting public institutions to the province stated, "Since the new government pledged a second round of public institution relocations from the Seoul metropolitan area during the presidential election, we will actively promote the strengths of Chungnam Innovation City and accelerate efforts to attract the headquarters of the Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Agency as well as other public institutions from the metropolitan area."

Meanwhile, as of last year, the Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Agency's budget amounted to 732.7 billion won, and the budget entrusted by the province over the past six years totaled 245.5 billion won.