Special Feature Two-Year Journey of Pyeongtaek·Dangjin Port Development Council, Contributions and Roles in Port Development Shine

◇Operating Pyeongtaek Port Academy Shifts Citizen Indifference to Interest

[News S=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] The Pyeongtaek·Dangjin Port Development Council focused on how to resolve the centralized port policy structure and local governments' insufficient port capacity caused by Pyeongtaek citizens' and Gyeonggi Province residents' indifference toward Pyeongtaek·Dangjin Port, the only trade port in the Gyeonggi region.

Located at the end of the Seoul metropolitan area's West Sea coast in Manho-ri, Poseung-eup, Pyeongtaek, Pyeongtaek·Dangjin Port was thoroughly ignored by politicians including city council members, provincial assemblymen, national assembly members, and mayors because it was not a vote-getter, and this was sufficient to distance it from citizens' and residents' attention.

Pyeongtaek was drawing national issues through the move-in of Asia's largest Samsung semiconductor factory in Deoksan New City and the relocation of the U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek.

Some 50 national assembly members and provincial assemblymen in Gyeonggi Province, city council members, and hundreds of politicians including mayors and county governors from 31 cities and counties showed no interest in Pyeongtaek·Dangjin Port's handling of 100 million tons of cargo throughput, ranking first in automobile imports and exports, and operating the Korea-China ferry service.

National assembly members, city and provincial assembly members from Pyeongtaek, and even civil servants were not properly informed unless it was their constituency or area of responsibility.

In contrast, regions with large ports such as Busan and Incheon have seen ruling and opposition politicians unite and speak with one voice whenever maritime and port-related issues arise, transforming the centralized port policy structure into a local port governance structure.

To turn this thorough indifference into interest, the Pyeongtaek·Dangjin Port Development Council focused its efforts on raising awareness by introducing the port and fostering public interest.

Through dozens of meetings, it was decided to launch a port academy, and in 2023 it requested budget allocation in a city government project and was approved.

△ 2023 Pyeongtaek Port Academy

In 2023, it was conducted from April to November targeting 960 people from 27 organizations including Gyeonggi Province Assembly Members' Brotherhood, Port Workers' Union, Disabled Welfare Association, Merchants Association, Elderly Association, universities, civic foundations, and Upright Living Movement.

The education consisted of a one-day program including the history and development direction of Pyeongtaek·Dangjin Port, waterfront park construction plans, tours of the Pyeongtaek Port area via promotional vessels, visits to the Navy's 2nd Fleet Command Security Park, and visits to the Pyeongtaek Port Promotion Center.

At the time, a satisfaction and perception survey conducted by Professor Park Geun-sik from Chung-Ang University (currently Dankook University professor) targeting 200 participants (62 male, 138 female) in the port academy received a high score of 4.3 points out of 5.

△Became more knowledgeable about Pyeongtaek Port after education: 4.4 points △Hope the Pyeongtaek Port Promotion Academy would continue: 4.34 △Provision of site-oriented education: 4.22 △Overall appropriateness of educational content: 4.18, in that order.

In the satisfaction survey regarding educational programs, △Lecture on the history and origins of Pyeongtaek Port: 4.35 △Visit to Navy 2nd Fleet: 4.26 △Berth (container terminal) tour: 4.23 △Boarding promotional vessel: 4.19, in that order.

Regarding priorities for port development, respondents answered that improvements to the connection road between Pyeongtaek City and Pyeongtaek Port, strengthening Pyeongtaek Port promotional activities, securing waterfront spaces and tourism resources, developing Pyeongtaek Port hinterland, and resolving conflict arising from boundary disputes with Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, were necessary.

Professor Park Geun-sik, who conducted the survey, stated, “Respondents showed increased understanding of Pyeongtaek Port after the promotional academy and requested the operation of diverse programs and development of programs for teenagers and preschool children,” adding, “Continuous operation of the promotional academy and ways to expand it to areas outside Pyeongtaek City should also be considered.”

△ 2024 Pyeongtaek Port Academy

The 2024 port academy is considered significant as it expanded from being primarily institution and organization-focused in 2023 to visiting schools and targeting middle and high school students.

As a result, the number of education participants increased 160% from 2023's 960 to 2,500.

Schools that conducted education to promote knowledge of Pyeongtaek Port include six schools—Donbang School, Hyunhwa Middle School, Shinhan Middle School, Songtan High School, Manse Middle School, and Dongsak Middle School—with a total of 2,070 students.

For students unable to participate in port tour schedules, shadow play performances focusing on the history and current status of Pyeongtaek Port were conducted to increase favorability.

To avoid the intense summer heat, 21 sessions were conducted intensively from May 16 to July 31, and with one-time boarding capacity of the promotional guidance vessel operated by Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port Authority reduced to 21 people, promotional vessel boarding numbers decreased significantly.

As a final event, National Assembly Member Lee Byung-jin, belonging to the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, was invited as a speaker at the Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone Authority, located at Pyeongtaek·Dangjin Port, where employees, officials from China's Shandong Province, and economic organizations attended, giving a lecture on Pyeongtaek Port's development direction.

Kang Tae-suk, chairman of the Pyeongtaek Disabled Parents Association who participated in the Pyeongtaek Port Academy event, stated, “For the Pyeongtaek Port Academy to take root, programs for younger students (kindergarten and elementary school) are necessary, and it appears that conducting the port academy from younger students would have greater effects.”

Additionally, middle and high school students stated, “We are pleased and proud to learn that our hometown has such an excellent Pyeongtaek Port, which is the future driving force of Pyeongtaek City.”

Kim Ki-sung, chairman of the Pyeongtaek·Dangjin Port Development Council, said, “Requests for participation in the Pyeongtaek Port Academy are increasing,” adding, “In 2025, we are planning to expand to include more students and citizens, even extending to Gyeonggi Province residents.”

Next article (Part 3) Focused on Co-prosperity with Chungcheong Region, Striving to Build Infrastructure Including Tourism Resources