Clean Coast Project: Restoring Coastal Areas of Gyeonggi-do

Gyeonggi Province is implementing various policies to create a clean marine environment.

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Gyeonggi-do is returning to their citizens clean and green beaches.

The goal is to create a clean marine environment, a clean and green coast for all to enjoy. Gyeonggi-do was previously able to restore and revitalize valleys in the province through its valley restoration projects, and now it’s putting its resources into doing the same for its coastal areas.

Jebu-do Island in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi-do
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Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Kim Hee-kyeum visited Jebu-do, Hwaseong City, on July 26 and met with local residents to discuss the restoration of coastal areas. He also announced plans to crack down on the illegal businesses operating along the coast.

During the meeting, Vice Governor Kim said, “Gyeonggi-do will do its best to create a clean coastal environment that can be shared by the 13.7 million residents of Gyeonggi-do as well as the fishermen who live near the sea.” He added, “We plan to pursue a strict crackdown on illegal facilities and to focus on the disposal of waste generated from coastal and offshore activities.

In addition, he went through a report on a crackdown on illegal facilities on the beaches of Jebu-do Island and also toured related sites, actively participating with local residents in events such as trash removal from a beach.

Gyeonggi Province Governor, who has been working to eradicate illegal facilities in valleys of the province since 2019, recently called for a more proactive movement in cracking down on illegal activities along the coast, saying that he would return the coastal areas of Gyeonggi-do to residents. A crackdown on illegal fishing activities began on July 29, and a crackdown on illegal businesses and illegal facilities routinely found in non-designated areas is also being carried out.

With design work completed last year, the construction of a 140-ton cleaning vessel is within sight. Once completed, the province will have the ability to clear marine debris and waste such as fishing gear and nets from the waters off its coast from next year onwards.

Concurrently, if someone was is caught fishing illegally, they would be subject up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 30 million in accordance with fishery-related laws and regulations; they will also face administrative penalties such as the cancellation of fishing permits and suspension of fishing businesses. In the case of illegal businesses operating in undesignated areas, offenders will likewise face imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to KRW 30 in accordance with the Public Water Management and Reclamation Act. Illegally installing facilities such as those for the sale of food will also see offenders face imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to KRW 20 million.

Gyeonggi Province is cracking down on illegal businesses running along the coast
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Recently, Gyeonggi-do demolished a container site at Oido Port in Siheung City. Oido Port, a regional fishing port with 59 registered fishing boats, is a major tourist destination in the metropolitan area that is visited by 1.86 million people annually. For over 20 years, about 76 commercial tents and 43 containers have been operating illegally at the fishing port. Gyeonggi Province, Siheung City and the Oido fishing villages formed a consensus on the maintenance of the fishing port and discussed voluntary demolition of illegal installations; on July 27, residents banded together to remove illegal containers.

The demolition schedule for illegal tent facilities will be discussed in the near future, and safety fences and other convenience facilities will be installed on cleared port sites. In addition, Oido Port was selected as a subject site for the “300 Fishing Village Deal” by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and is also benefiting from a fishing port development project under the theme of “Protecting the Oido Urban Fishing Village.”

Vice Governor Kim Hee-kyeum visited Oido Port to view the demolition sites and to inspect the area. The Deputy Mayor of Siheung City and Oido local residents joined Vice Governor Kim, participating in an explanatory session that outlined crackdown plans and gathered resident opinions.

In the explanatory session, Vice Governor Kim said, “Oido Port will be an exemplary case for the eradication of illegal activities.” He added, “We will strive to achieve a clean and green coastal environment for the enjoyment of Gyeonggi-do residents.”

Prior to this, the province had been promoting the voluntary removal of illegal operations from fishing ports, public areas, and beaches from July 6, and plans to eliminate remaining illegal activities through strict crackdowns from August.

“The seaside and fishing ports are common goods used by the 13.7 million residents of Gyeonggi-do,” said Maritime and Fisheries Division Director Sang-woo Lee. He added, “We will create a clean and green coastal environment by eradicating illegal activities such as unlicensed facilities in order to allow the public to use these areas freely.”