Gyeonggi Province Orders Demolition of Illegally-Operated Containers at Siheung Oido Port After 20 Years

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province has begun harbor maintenance including demolition of illegally-operated containers, starting with Siheung Oido Port, in efforts to create a "Clean Gyeonggi Sea."

On the 27th, demolition work on residents' illegal containers began at Siheung Oido Port. Oido Port is a local fishing harbor with 59 registered fishing vessels and a major tourist destination in the Seoul metropolitan area, attracting 1.86 million visitors annually. Approximately 76 commercial tents and 43 containers had been illegally operated within the harbor for the past 20 years. Gyeonggi Province, Siheung City, and the Oido Fishing Village Association reached consensus on harbor maintenance and agreed to voluntary demolition.

A demolition schedule for illegal tents will be negotiated shortly, and safety fences and other convenience facilities will be installed on the cleared harbor land. Additionally, Oido Port has been selected as a Rural Fisheries New Deal 300 project site by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and is concurrently proceeding with harbor development projects under the theme of "Preserving Oido's Urban Fishing Village," with plans to develop the area so residents can feel close to the sea.

Kim Hee-kyeom, Senior Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, visited Oido Port on the day to observe the demolition site and inspect the surrounding area. Subsequently, with Vice Mayor Cha Kwang-hoe of Siheung City and local Oido residents in attendance, he held a discussion meeting on "Creating a Clean Gyeonggi Sea," explaining enforcement plans for illegal activities on beaches and hearing residents' opinions.

At the discussion, Vice Governor Kim stated, "Siheung Oido Port will become a model case for eliminating illegal activities," and added, "We will continue our efforts to return clean seas to the residents of Gyeonggi Province."

Previously, the province has been encouraging voluntary demolition of illegal matters at harbors, shared water surfaces, and beaches since the 6th. Beginning in August, it plans to eliminate illegal activities through strong enforcement. Illegal facilities within harbors are subject to imprisonment of up to two years or fines up to 20 million won under the Fishing Village and Harbor Act, while illegal activities on shared water surfaces may result in imprisonment of up to three years or fines up to 30 million won.

Lee Sang-woo, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Division of the province, stated, "Beaches and harbors are shared public assets used by 13.7 million Gyeonggi Province residents," and added, "We will eliminate illegal activities such as unauthorized facilities to create a clean Gyeonggi Sea and enable residents to use it freely."