Saemangeum New Port to Make a New Start with Gunsan Port as Metropolitan “Saemangeum Port”

 

- Decision by the 131st Central Port Policy Deliberation Council meeting to designate Saemangeum Port as a new nationally managed international trade port

 

- Merging Gunsan Port and Saemangeum New Port into Saemangeum Port’s integrated port logistics system to foster it as an internationally competitive premium port

 

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced on Friday, May 2 that the 131st Central Port Policy Deliberation Council meeting has finalized a plan to designate Saemangeum Port as a new nationally managed international trade port as a result of merging Gunsan Port and Saemangeum New Port (formerly Saemangeum-sin Port), which is scheduled to open in 2026.

 

 The Deliberation Council meeting was attended by 18 members in all, including Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Song Myeong-dal who serves as chairperson along with 8 ex officio members from government ministries and 10 civilian members. A total of 16 members agreed with the government-proposed plan and approved it.

 

 According to the new port classification system, the public official name of Gunsan Port will remain as Gunsan Port, the existing Saemangeum-sin Port will be Saemangeum New Port, and the name of the metropolitan port that refers to the two ports will be Saemangeum Port.

 

 In addition to the proposed agenda, the long-term vision and development direction of Saemangeum Port were also reported. MOF plans to reflect the mid- to long-term measures of Saemangeum Port to the Master Plan for New Port Construction to be announced this year to improve the current situation wherein a significant portion of cargo exported to or imported from the Jeonbuk region is handled at major ports in other regions and to develop Saemangeum Port into a base port in the Yellow Sea Rim.

 

 Moreover, Gunsan Port is having difficulty handling large ships due to continuous sedimentation, with the Geumgang Riverside area aging and idle; thus hindering the city's development. Accordingly, MOF will develop a new dredged soil landfill (scheduled to begin construction in the second half of 2025) and conduct large-scale dredging to secure sufficient water depth to enhance the international competitiveness of Gunsan Port. The plan also includes the early development of Geumran Island and creation of a waterside space along Geumgang River to make Gunsan a prestigious port city.

 

 For Saemangeum New Port, the plan will open two berths for general cargo wharves by the end of 2026 and develop six berths by 2035 and ten berths by 2045 to attract companies and build an industrial ecosystem in the Saemangeum hinterland. In particular, functions related to energy, food clusters, and marine tourism—which are being intensively fostered in the region—are expected to be reflected additionally to the Master Plan for New Port Construction scheduled for announcement within this year.

 

 Following the decision made by the Central Port Policy Deliberation Council meeting, follow-up administrative procedures such as amending the Enforcement Decree of the Harbor Act will be carried out.

 

 “We plan to focus on fostering Saemangeum Port as a metropolitan base port representing the Jeonbuk region so that Saemangeum New Port and Gunsan Port can become interconnected and develop together. We will swiftly implement follow-up administrative procedures related to the designation of Saemangeum Port and do our best to ensure that the new port can open without a hitch in 2026. I also ask for wholehearted interest and support from the region,” Minister Kang Do-hyung said.