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| Saemangeum development | |
|---|---|
| Name | Saemangeum |
| Location | North Jeolla and South Jeolla, South Korea |
| Type | Coastal reclamation project |
| Status | Completed seawall (2006); reclamation ongoing |
Saemangeum development The Saemangeum development is a large-scale coastal reclamation and infrastructure project on the western coast of South Korea undertaken to create new land, ports, industrial zones, and agricultural areas. Initiated by national planners and contested by environmentalists, municipal leaders, international scientists, and commercial developers, the project has involved complex engineering works, legal disputes, and political debates. Major actors have included the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (South Korea), regional governments such as North Jeolla Province and South Jeolla Province, conservation groups, and multinational firms.
The project area lies along the estuary of the Mangyeong River and the Dongjin River bordering the Yellow Sea coast near the city of Gunsan. Historically the tidal flats supported extensive migratory bird populations recognized by researchers from institutions like Seoul National University, Kangwon National University, and visiting experts associated with the Ramsar Convention and the World Wide Fund for Nature. The coastal geomorphology includes mudflats, salt marshes, tidal channels, and traditional fishing grounds used by communities from Buan County, Gimje, and Gunsan Harbor. Pre-project ecological surveys involved collaborations with organizations such as the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements and the National Institute of Ecology (South Korea).
Construction of the primary seawall, designed to enclose the estuarine basin, was carried out by consortia including major contractors and engineering firms contracted by the Korea Land and Housing Corporation and overseen by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (South Korea). The seawall combines rock-fill, rubble-mound, and impermeable core techniques comparable to projects like the Afsluitdijk in the Netherlands and the Zuiderzee Works undertaken with input from international consultants. Key milestones involved ties to administrations of presidents such as Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, and Park Geun-hye whose policies affected funding, permitting, and timeline decisions. Engineering assessments referenced standards from bodies like the International Maritime Organization and collaborations with universities such as Pusan National University.
Following seawall closure, reclamation works included infill, drainage, road construction, and utility corridors to establish agricultural zones, industrial parks, and port facilities intended to integrate with regional transport nodes such as Gunsan Airport, the Honam High Speed Railway, and national expressways managed by the Korea Expressway Corporation. Planned infrastructure projects referenced investment proposals from development agencies including the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency (SDIA), private firms, and foreign investors linked to trade partners like China and Japan. Land use planning incorporated proposals for technology parks, renewable energy installations promoted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (South Korea), and aquaculture ponds inspired by examples from the Netherlands and Denmark.
Scientists from institutions such as Korea University, Yonsei University, and international researchers from the University of Cambridge and Wageningen University raised concerns about loss of tidal flats, impacts to migratory shorebirds listed by the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership, and changes in estuarine hydrodynamics analogous to controversies at the Aral Sea and Rangiroa. Conservation NGOs including BirdLife International, the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements, and local groups documented declines in populations of species comparable to the bar-tailed godwit and sanderling and flagged risks to fisheries relied upon by coastal communities in Buan County and Gunsan. Environmental impact assessments involved the National Institute of Environmental Research (South Korea), contested monitoring by the Korea Environment Corporation, and scrutiny from international bodies such as the Ramsar Convention Secretariat.
Proponents argued the reclaimed areas would host industries including advanced manufacturing clusters promoted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (South Korea), renewable energy projects supported by the Korea Energy Agency, logistics hubs tied to the Port of Gunsan, and large-scale agriculture encouraged by the Rural Development Administration (South Korea). Investment pitches attracted developers and corporations similar in scale to conglomerates such as Hyundai, Samsung, and POSCO in conceptual comparisons, while regional governments in North Jeolla Province and South Jeolla Province promoted tourism, aquaculture, and special economic zones inspired by models like the Incheon Free Economic Zone. Economic analyses from institutions like the Korea Development Institute and Bank of Korea debated projected job creation, GDP contributions, and cost–benefit outcomes.
Local residents, fishing cooperatives, and civic organizations including the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements and the Korean Labor and Society Institute mobilized protests and legal challenges against aspects of the project, aligning with opposition parties such as the Democratic Party of Korea and criticism from members of the National Assembly (South Korea). Political debates reflected competing visions offered by administrations from Kim Dae-jung through Moon Jae-in, with media coverage by outlets like The Korea Herald, Yonhap News Agency, and Korea JoongAng Daily. Social impacts included disputes over compensation for landholders, resettlement negotiations referencing precedents like the Saemaul Undong era policies, and tensions involving fisheries rights protected by local cooperatives.
The project generated litigation in administrative courts and reviews by oversight bodies such as the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea and engagements with international environmental law frameworks including the Ramsar Convention and obligations under multilateral agreements signed by South Korea. Regulatory processes involved ministries like the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (South Korea), the Ministry of Environment (South Korea), and provincial authorities in North Jeolla Province, raising questions about environmental assessment standards, permit validity, and interagency coordination. Governance mechanisms evolved with the creation of agencies such as the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency (SDIA) and policy reviews influenced by think tanks including the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy and the Sejong Institute.
Category:Geography of South Korea