"Era of Fisheries Museum Begins"... Wando National Maritime and Fisheries Museum Passes Feasibility Study

National Maritime and Fisheries Museum to Be Built in Wando, the First in Korea Dedicated to the Fisheries Industry
Project Budget Set at 113.8 Billion Won, Aiming for Opening in Late 2030
Park Jiwon: "A New Foundation for Wando to Become the Capital of Marine Healing Tourism"

The construction project for the National Maritime and Fisheries Museum, which will be established in Wando County, South Jeolla Province, passed the final preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on August 20. This marks the realization of the nation's first national museum dedicated primarily to the fisheries industry.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the project will require a total investment of 113.8 billion won (with 112.5 billion won from the national budget). The site will cover 46,886 square meters, with a total floor area of 14,414 square meters, and the building will have two stories above ground and one basement level.

Aerial view of the National Maritime and Fisheries Museum. Provided by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

Park Jiwon, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Haenam, Wando, and Jindo), stated on his Facebook page that "it was not easy to pass the preliminary feasibility study since there are already five maritime museums operating nationwide, but by working closely with Kim Yungrok, Governor of South Jeolla Province, and Shin Woochul, Mayor of Wando County, we achieved significant results."

He added, "With this, another foundation has been laid for Wando to become the 'capital of marine healing tourism' through major national projects such as the National Subtropical Arboretum and the second phase of the Gwangju-Wando Expressway construction."

The museum will focus on "the stories of people who have lived with the sea of the Korean Peninsula as their home," comprehensively covering the history, culture, industry, and key figures of the fisheries sector. It will be developed as a "living industrial culture platform," encompassing not only traditional fishing methods but also the global growth of K-seafood and AI-based smart aquaculture, reflecting the entirety of the fisheries industry.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to complete the design competition and detailed design by 2026, begin construction in the second half of 2027, and open the museum in 2030. Exhibition content planning and the development of educational programs will proceed in parallel.

Assemblyman Park expressed his gratitude to officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Korea Institute of Public Finance, South Jeolla Province, and Wando County, and emphasized his commitment to ensuring that future major national projects in Haenam, Wando, and Jindo pass the preliminary feasibility review.