The opening of Saemangeum New Port, originally expected by the end of this year, has been pushed back to August next year.
Jeonbuk Province said on the 25th that it has rescheduled the opening of the new port to August 2027. The province had been preparing to open the facility by the end of this year.
A jurisdictional dispute between local governments left required facilities unfinished, which is cited as the reason for the schedule change. Gimje and Gunsan had been at odds over which city holds jurisdiction over the reclaimed offshore land used for the Saemangeum New Port development project. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' Central Port Policy Deliberation Committee ultimately designated Gunsan as the governing municipality after seven rounds of deliberation, but critics say infrastructure went unbuilt while the dispute dragged on.
Two general cargo berths and a breakwater at the mooring facility in front of the second Saemangeum seawall are ready, but ground has yet to be broken on infrastructure needed to run the port, such as warehouse and operations buildings. Administrative procedures, including construction and urban planning permits, have also been delayed.
The province expressed confidence that the port can open in August next year if it expedites administrative procedures and begins infrastructure construction. It has also formed a consultative body with Gunsan, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Gunsan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries to continue working-level talks.