Seocheon County seeks to legitimize illegally reclaimed port, sparking controversy

Jangpo Port in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province, exists as a functional fishing harbor, yet it lacks an official address and land registry number. Small vessels are lined up along the coast, with fishing gear, tractors, and even a public restroom and containers scattered around the area. Residents identify this space as Jangpo Port, but it does not appear on map applications and its land has no registered number.

The port was reportedly created around 2007 by reclaiming public waters, which are state-owned sea or river areas. According to the Public Waters Reclamation Act, obtaining a permit requires inclusion in the national basic plan for public waters reclamation. However, Jangpo Port was not included in the second plan, covering 2001-2011. An official from Seocheon County's port development team stated that records regarding the unauthorized reclamation are unavailable, making precise details difficult to ascertain.

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Records regarding the unauthorized reclamation are unavailable, making precise details difficult to ascertain.

Seocheon County recently applied to the South Chungcheong Provincial Government to waive the obligation to restore the 4,524 square meters of land where Jangpo Port is located. While the law generally mandates returning illegally reclaimed areas to their original state, waivers are possible if the reclamation has minimal environmental and ecological impact and does not hinder the conservation, use, or management of public waters. The county seeks to legitimize a facility that has been in use for nearly 20 years without legal requirements being met.

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If the county engages in illegal reclamation, how can we stop individuals from illegally extracting sand from the sea? If Jangpo Port development is necessary, they can obtain formal reclamation permits after restoring the site.

However, some residents and civic groups are raising concerns. They argue that waiving the restoration obligation for Jangpo Port, which was developed without proper permits, could negatively impact the overall management of public waters. They believe such waivers should only be considered in cases of accidental over-reclamation due to surveying errors, not for deliberate illegal reclamation. Kim Yong-bin, head of the Seocheon Citizen's Association, stated, "If the county engages in illegal reclamation, how can we stop individuals from illegally extracting sand from the sea? If Jangpo Port development is necessary, they can obtain formal reclamation permits after restoring the site."

If the provincial government rejects Seocheon County's request, Jangpo Port, including its paved roads, quay, and containers, would have to be dismantled, leaving only the reclaimed land. The county claims this could displace about 30 local fishermen. An official from the county's port development team explained that the waiver application was to resolve the issue of Jangpo Port's lack of development due to its illegal status, unlike the nearby Dahang Port. "If the fishing port itself disappears, fishermen will be scattered, and managing fishing boats and discarded gear will become difficult, potentially worsening the environment," the official added. The provincial government is currently reviewing the county's application, considering expert opinions before making a decision.

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If the fishing port itself disappears, fishermen will be scattered, and managing fishing boats and discarded gear will become difficult, potentially worsening the environment.