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

◇Converting Citizen Indifference to Interest Through Pyeongtaek Port Academy

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] The Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port Development Council focused on how to solve the centralized port policy structure resulting from the indifference of not only Pyeongtaek citizens but also residents of Gyeonggi Province toward Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port, the only trade port in the Gyeonggi region, and the insufficient port capacity of local governments.

Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port, located at the end of the western coast of the metropolitan area in Manho-ri, Poseung-eup, Pyeongtaek, became invisible in political debates and was thoroughly ignored by politicians including city council members, provincial council members, lawmakers, and the mayor. This made it distant from the attention of citizens and residents of the province.

Pyeongtaek was drawing national issues due to the influx of Samsung's largest semiconductor factory at Godeok New City and the relocation of Camp Humphreys.

About 50 lawmakers and provincial council members, city council members in Gyeonggi Province, and hundreds of politicians including mayors and governors of 31 cities and counties showed no interest in handling 100 million tons of cargo at Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port, ranking first in automobile import and export, and operating Korea-China ferry services.

Even lawmakers, city council members, provincial council members, and government officials in Pyeongtaek did not properly understand matters unless they were in their own districts or areas of responsibility.

In contrast, regions with large ports like Busan and Incheon were solidifying their response across political lines whenever sea and port-related issues arose, gradually transforming the centralized port policy structure into a local port governance structure.

To turn such thorough indifference into interest, the Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port Development Council focused its efforts on promoting the port and garnering attention.

After dozens of meetings, the decision was made to promote the port academy, and budget allocation was requested for city government projects in 2023 and was approved.

△ 2023 Pyeongtaek Port Academy

In 2023, the academy was conducted from April to November for 960 people from 27 organizations including the Gyeonggi Province Council Members Friendship Association, the Port Workers Union, the Disabled Welfare Association, Merchants Associations, Senior Citizens Associations, universities, civic foundations, and the Beautiful Life Movement.

The education consisted of a one-day program covering the history and development direction of Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port and plans for waterfront park development, followed by a port tour by promotional vessel, a visit to the Navy 2nd Fleet Command Security Park, and a visit to the Pyeongtaek Port Promotion Center.

In a satisfaction survey conducted by Professor Park Keun-sik of Chung-Ang University (currently at Dankook University) among 200 participants (62 male, 138 female) in the Port Academy, an average score of 4.3 out of 5 points was achieved.

△Became more knowledgeable about Pyeongtaek Port after education: 4.4 points △Hope the Pyeongtaek Port Promotion Academy continues: 4.34 △Providing field-oriented education: 4.22 △Overall appropriateness of educational content: 4.18 in order.

In the satisfaction section for educational programs, △Lectures on Pyeongtaek Port history and origins: 4.35 △Navy 2nd Fleet visit: 4.26 △Wharf (container terminal) visit: 4.23 △Boarding the promotional vessel: 4.19 in order.

For port development priorities, respondents indicated the need for improved connection roads between Pyeongtaek City and Pyeongtaek Port, strengthened Pyeongtaek Port promotional activities, securing waterfront and tourism resources, developing the hinterland of Pyeongtaek Port, and establishing conflict resolution measures for boundary disputes with Dangjin in South Chungcheong Province.

Professor Park Keun-sik, who conducted the survey, stated, "Respondents showed increased understanding of Pyeongtaek Port after the promotional academy, and requested various program operations and program development for teenagers and preschool children," adding "We should consider continuous operation of the promotional academy and expansion to areas outside Pyeongtaek City."

△ 2024 Pyeongtaek Port Academy

The 2024 Port Academy is regarded as significant in that it expanded from institutional organizations in 2023 to visiting schools and targeting middle and high school students.

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

Schools that conducted education to promote local Pyeongtaek Port include six schools—Dongbang School, Hyunhwa Middle School, Sinhan Middle School, Songtan High School, Mansei Middle School, and Dongsak Middle School—with a total of 2,070 students.

For students unable to participate in the port tour schedule, a 'shadow play' performance was conducted focusing on the history and current status of Pyeongtaek Port to increase favorable impressions.

To avoid the extreme summer heat, the program was intensively conducted 21 times from May 16 to July 31, and the promotional guidance vessel operated by the Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port Authority reduced capacity to 21 people per voyage, significantly decreasing the number of promotional vessel passengers.

As the final event, at the Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone Administration located at Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port, Congressman Lee Byung-jin, a member of the National Assembly Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee, was invited as a lecturer to deliver a lecture on the development direction of Pyeongtaek Port in the presence of staff, officials from Shandong Province, China, and economic organizations.

Kang Tae-sook, president of the Pyeongtaek City Association of Parents of Disabled Children, who participated in the Pyeongtaek Port Academy event, said, "For the Pyeongtaek Port Academy to be established, programs for young students (kindergarten, elementary school) are needed, and starting the port academy from young students will likely have greater impact."

Additionally, middle and high school students said, "We are happy and proud to learn that our hometown has such an excellent Pyeongtaek Port, which is a future engine for Pyeongtaek City."

Kim Ki-sung, president of the Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port Development Council, said, "Requests to participate in the Pyeongtaek Port Academy are increasing," adding "We are planning and promoting expansion to more students, citizens, and even residents of Gyeonggi Province in 2025."

Next Article (Part 3) Mutual Prosperity Cooperation with South and Central Chungcheong, Strengthening Efforts in Infrastructure Development Including Tourism Resources