Selected as One of Four Fishing Village Economic Leap Model Ports Nationwide
Marine Deep-Sea Water Spa and Jjimjilbang Complex Center to Foster Stay-Type Tourism
Ulleung County in North Gyeongsang Province announced that the "Ulleung Jeodong Port Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project" has been finally selected in the "2026 Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project" competition organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
This competition proceeded with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries releasing its guidelines on September 15, followed by the submission of project applications on October 15. Ulleung County's selection in the "Fishing Village Economic Leap Model" category is particularly notable, as it was chosen as one of only four fishing ports nationwide.
The Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project is a core fishing village regeneration policy of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, designed as a public competition project to comprehensively improve the living, economic, and safety infrastructure of underdeveloped fishing villages.
In line with the new government’s national agenda, the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project will be reorganized from 2026, changing from the existing three types (Economic Platform Model, Living Platform Model, and Safety Infrastructure Model) to two types (Fishing Village Economic Leap Model and Fishing Village Recovery Model).
In particular, the Fishing Village Economic Leap Model allows applications from national fishing ports and is a new model that requires private investment (with support differentiated according to the scale of private investment attraction). The plan is to select 20 locations nationwide over five years.
This selection is especially significant as Ulleung Jeodong Port has been included as one of the four target sites in the first year. The project will be implemented from 2026 to 2030 over five years, with a total project budget of 29.5 billion won (14.75 billion won in national funds, 14.75 billion won in local funds, and 5.4 billion won in private investment).
The project will be promoted as a collaborative regional development model involving central and local governments as well as the private sector. The target area covers Jeodong Port and the Naesujeon area, with plans to expand tourism infrastructure for fishing villages and ports such as the "Low-Sea Square,"
"Marine Promenade," "Moshigae Fountain Square," and "Naesujeon Coastal Park," creating a complex marine space for both local residents and tourists to enjoy.
This project aims to address the limitations of the previous "Jeodong Port Multifunctional Port Complex Project," which focused mainly on port function infrastructure, by strengthening tourism, convenience, and commercial functions. In other words, through the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project, it will be developed into a community-based fishing village economy model that combines tourism, commercial, and residential infrastructure.
Jeodong Port was once vibrant due to the squid fishing industry, but recent declines in fishing activities have led to a contraction of the local commercial district. In particular, by attracting a private investment project for a "Marine Deep-Sea Water Spa and Jjimjilbang Complex Center," the plan is to establish marine healing infrastructure that enables year-round tourism regardless of climate or season, thereby fostering a stay-type marine tourism destination and strengthening the foundation for extended tourism stays.
Currently, the Ulleung County Fisheries Cooperative has submitted a letter of intent to invest, and the final project operator will be selected through a future private investment competition. Through this, Ulleung County aims to establish a sustainable local economic structure with both public and private sector participation.
The county plans to complete the basic and detailed designs by 2027, commence construction in 2027, and complete the project by 2030. In addition, by strengthening the cooperation system between private investors such as the Ulleung County Fisheries Cooperative and local consultative bodies, the county aims to establish a Fishing Village Economic Leap Model that harmonizes public interest and effectiveness.
County Governor Nam Hankwon stated, "Being selected in this competition will serve as an opportunity to foster the Jeodong Port area as a new center of the fishing village economy in Ulleung County," and added, "Through stay-type tourism infrastructure linked to private investment projects, we will secure a sustainable growth engine for the local economy."
Ulleungdo Jeodong Port is a community-based fishing village economy model that combines tourism, commercial, and residential infrastructure.
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