Ganghwa's Largest Shrimp Paste Producing Region, 'Oipo Port and Hwangcheong Port', to Regain Vitality

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Shin Eun-seop] Ganghwa County announced on the 7th that Oipo Port and Hwangcheong Port, serving as the western gateway to the Ganghwa area, have been selected as new project sites for the '2022 Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project,' securing 11.6 billion won in project funds.

As a result, Oipo Port and Hwangcheong Port in the Oipo region, which serve as a key transportation hub connecting western islands and represent the nation's largest shrimp paste producing area, accounting for over 70% of the country's production, are expected to restore the vitality of the historic fishing port.

The shrimp paste produced at Oipo Port and Hwangcheong Port has been generated in the waters off Ganghwa Island where the Imjin River, Yeseong River, and Han River converge, where freshwater and saltwater intersect, giving it a rich umami flavor and high nutritional value. However, due to aging fishing port facilities and insufficient income-generating infrastructure, visitor traffic and sales channels have been limited.

Following the selection as a new project site for the '2022 Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project,' the county plans to strengthen fishing port infrastructure maintenance in the western hub Oipo region to enhance safe fishing port environment and fishing functions, and to promote regional tourism specialization through revitalization and strengthened connectivity of tourism resources in the Oipo region.

Key project details include fishing port facility improvement projects: ▲Oipo Port will undertake expansion of cargo wharves, construction of new fishing gear and nets facilities, and establishment of boat hoists and boat yards ▲Hwangcheong Port will undertake maintenance of docks and floating piers, and establishment of new fishing gear and nets storage facilities.

For landscape improvement and specialized spaces, the county plans to create ▲photo zones at Oipo Port and sea rest areas ▲specialized shrimp paste-themed seafood direct sales centers ▲maintenance of the Sambyeolcho historical plaza ▲seagull ecological learning center.

Meanwhile, the county previously had Humpo Port in Hwado-myeon selected for the Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project in 2019 with 8.7 billion won in project funds, completing the project last September.

Last year, Changhuh Port and Hwangsan Island Port (two locations) were selected for the Fishing Village New Deal Project, and with 16.4 billion won in secured project funds, the county is accelerating projects for fishing industry infrastructure, regional specialization, and resident capacity building.

Additionally, for the 2021 project, Choji Port and Acha Port and Hari Port as 'passenger ferry port improvement projects' were selected, securing 10.6 billion won in project funds.

A county official said, "Following the selection for the Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project, we will systematically and swiftly pursue projects to develop island areas and fishing villages and ports as new growth engines for marine eco-tourism."