Planning Special Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port Development Council's Two-Year Journey Shines in Port Development Contribution and Role
◇Mutual Cooperation with Chungcheongnam-do's Dangjin and Asan Cities
[News S=Reporter Park Chan-hyeok] As the port name indicates, Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port encompasses areas of Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province and Asan and Dangjin Cities in Chungcheongnam-do.
Although using the same port name, communication has been difficult due to lack of exchanges not only between local governments such as Asan and Dangjin Cities in South Chungcheong Province and Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province, but also between port civic organizations.
Conflicts deepened due to lawsuits between local governments over ownership of the western dock area and newly reclaimed land, and although the Supreme Court's final ruling in February 2021 concluded the matter, as of three years later, the entire Gyeonggi Province's Pyeongtaek City and South Chungcheong Province's Dangjin and Asan Cities continue to show a confrontational stance.
As a result, dialogue for port development is not being held at all.
△Pursuing Mutual Cooperation
If mutual cooperation measures between local governments have essentially fallen through, port development utilizing each region's assets through cooperation between Pyeongtaek port civic organizations and Dangjin port civic organizations is urgent.
Various projects appear feasible, including mutual job creation programs, family experience farms alongside the sea, bicycle road construction between Pyeongtaek and Asan, sightseeing cruise operations, waterfront park development, and citywide joint response to fine dust.
Additionally, efforts are needed to actively request and reflect urban infrastructure improvements, such as expanding in-port connecting road networks, from local governments.
◇Building Tourism Infrastructure at Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port
△Creating an American Village
Due to the relocation of the U.S. Forces Korea to Pyeongtaek, approximately 40,000 U.S. citizens reside in Pyeongtaek City alone.
No city in the world outside the United States has 40,000 residents who are U.S. citizens.
Nevertheless, tourism development such as parks for American citizens has not been implemented.
American villages (buildings, cafes, restaurants, residential complexes) should be developed at or near the Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port waterfront park and utilized as tourism resources.
△ Promoting Security Park Display Outside the Naval Operations Command Second Fleet (ROKS Cheonan and PCC-731 Chamsuri) Facility
Naval Operations Command Second Fleet is the frontline unit of the Navy protecting the Five West Sea Islands.
A security park displaying the Cheonan and Chamsuri has been created here, attracting many tourists.
Difficulties such as identification verification for base visits and serious security concerns regarding military facility opening exist.
It is necessary to relocate the security park from within the base to the newly developed Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port waterfront park and other locations to commercialize it as a security tourism resource.
△Using Marine Center Floors 1-2 as Imported Car Showroom and Consultation Space
Most foreign vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi are imported through Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port.
Entire imported car showrooms and consultation spaces should be leased to Floors 1 and 2 of the Marine Center, a landmark of Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port operated by Gyeonggi Province, and utilized as tourism products.
△Remodeling Pyeongtaek Port Public Relations Center into Trade Center
Reviewing plans to remodel the current public relations center, which does not have many visitors, into venture trading company incubators, existing trading company offices, meeting rooms, consultation rooms, and rest spaces, and utilize it as the Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port Trade Center.
◇Expanding Port Academy Target
Programs will be developed to expand from local organizations and middle and high school students to kindergarten and elementary students and general adults.
Additionally, specialized port education will be provided to local journalists, retired public officials, and civic organization members.
Efforts to expand the Port Academy by hosting forums, discussions, and meetings with Gyeonggi Province, the Provincial Assembly, and local National Assembly members are necessary to ensure budget allocation.
◇Reflecting Citizen Opinion in Waterfront Spaces
Regarding the Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port waterfront park development being promoted by Pyeongtaek Regional Maritime and Fisheries Administration, Gyeonggi Province, and Pyeongtaek City, seminars, forums, and meetings hosted by civic organizations will be held to ensure citizen opinions are reflected as much as possible.
The Pyeongtaek Regional Maritime and Fisheries Administration spent tens of billions of won from 2013 to 2014 constructing a waterfront embankment of 175m and a breakwater of 58m at a management dock near security facilities housing the Naval Operations Command Second Fleet and gas storage facilities within the Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port, but has been criticized for formalistic construction as no tourists visit.
◇Establishing Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port Community Including Civic Organizations
The Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port Development Council takes the lead in establishing a strong port community with diverse stakeholder participation to collect grievances and resolve current issues at Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port.
Participating organizers include diverse participants: government (Pyeongtaek Regional Maritime and Fisheries Administration), local governments (Gyeonggi Province, Chungcheongnam-do, Pyeongtaek City, Dangjin City, etc.), CIQ agencies, National Assembly members and regional city and provincial assembly members, media, civic organizations, universities, and research institutions.
The Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port Community will contribute to port development by hosting related seminars and forums to refine systems so that current issues that can be resolved within local governance can be handled swiftly and effectively.