From Industrial City to Creative Marine Tourism City
A Major Transformation into a Global Marine Tourism Hub
On November 5, Pohang City held the 'Integrated Marine Leisure Tourism City Governance Launch Ceremony and Investment Attraction Fam Tour' at Lahan Hotel and the Yeongildae Beach area, with more than 200 participants including officials from the central government and North Gyeongsang Province, private investment firms, financial institutions, and experts. The city proclaimed its new urban vision during the event.
At the launch ceremony, the city presented its blueprint for 'Pohang, an Integrated Marine Leisure Tourism City Combining Marine, Tourism, Industry, and Education,' which merges its exceptional marine resources with industrial infrastructure.
The event consisted of the 'Governance Launch Ceremony' and the 'Investment Attraction Fam Tour (Yacht Tour).' During the launch ceremony held on the 6th-floor patio of Lahan Hotel, the city announced its vision for the integrated marine leisure tourism city and declared the formation of an open governance body with the participation of private investors, the financial sector, academia, and civic groups.
Subsequently, during the yacht tour held at Yeongilman Port, participants experienced the future marine tourism belt along the coastlines of Yeongilman and the Homiban Peninsula.
They also visited major tourist attractions such as Jukdo Market, Songdo Pine Forest, Yeongildae Beach, and Hwanho Park Space Walk. Moving forward, the city plans to continue discussions on private investment projects worth 1.15 trillion won, including hotels, resorts, marinas, and leisure sports complexes.
Based on this governance, the city plans to carry out a basic plan and activation study over the next year, continue hosting fam tours for domestic and international investors, and complete the 'Integrated Marine Leisure Tourism City Master Plan.' From 2027, Pohang will begin full-scale expansion of large-scale private investment projects and public infrastructure.
This year, Pohang achieved the distinction of being the first among the nine metropolitan governments nationwide to be selected for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' 'Integrated Marine Leisure Tourism City Development Project.'
This project aims to integrate the marine leisure and tourism service industries with future new industries, promoting a phased urban transformation that includes job creation focused on women and youth, specialized marine education and global talent development, and the establishment of an eco-friendly marine city.
The city plans to build an eco-friendly transportation infrastructure encompassing land, sea, and air-connecting each tourist hub into a single circular tourism belt-by focusing on the Yeongilman Tourism Special Zone and introducing tourist circulation buses, marine cabins, urban air mobility (UAM), smart mobility, circle walks, and marinas.
Through these initiatives, Pohang aims to establish itself as a global marine tourism hub that combines international marine leisure with the MICE industry.
Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "Pohang, which built Korea with steel, now seeks to open the nation's future through the sea," adding, "Through the 'Pohang-style Marine Tourism Brand,' created together by industry, tourism, citizens, and businesses, we will transform into a city where people stay, a city of charm, and a city of youth."
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