Gyeonggi Province Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Activities at Beaches and Ports Through End of August

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Following its initiative to create clean valleys, Gyeonggi Province is promoting the creation of 'clean Gyeonggi waters' and has launched intensive management measures through the end of August this year targeting illegal activities at beaches, ports and harbors, illegal fishing, and illegal marine waste dumping.

Kim Chung-beom, Director of the Agriculture and Marine Affairs Bureau, held a briefing at Gyeonggi Provincial Government on the 10th, stating, "We will ensure that provincial residents can enjoy Gyeonggi waters without inconvenience through eliminating illegal activities on the coast," and added, "We will take this opportunity to reorganize long-overlooked illegal practices and customs to create clean Gyeonggi waters."

This measure is in accordance with an instruction from Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. The governor posted an article titled "Now It's the Sea" through his social media account in June, stating, "Following the valleys, we will return the sea to the hands of our provincial residents."

Accordingly, the province will conduct intensive enforcement across five areas—beaches, illegal port and harbor facilities, illegal fishing, and coastal garbage management—through the end of August, and plans to showcase the original appearance of Gyeonggi waters to visitors through discussions with residents.

First, Gyeonggi Province is conducting enforcement against illegal activities at three beaches: Jebudo and Gungpyeong-ri in Hwaseong and Bangnamerri in Ansan. Enforcement targets include unauthorized parasol operations where operators charge fees for space, illegal street vending, and excessive solicitation. During July alone, the province conducted 72 on-site inspections and issued guidance for 4 violations.

Second, the province is promoting cleanup of illegal facilities at major ports and harbors in four cities: Gungpyeong and Jeongok ports in Hwaseong, Tando Port in Ansan, Daemyeong Port in Gimpo, and Oido Port in Siheung. The province has completed the removal of 43 containers that had been illegally occupied for over 20 years at Siheung's Oido Port for fishing gear storage, and plans to demolish 76 tents this month. Additionally, the province will encourage voluntary demolition of unauthorized restaurants at Ansan's Buldo Port by next year, and will proceed with administrative enforcement if cooperation is not forthcoming. Ports cleared of illegal facilities will be renovated through projects such as fishing village new deal projects and local fishing port development projects.

Third, the province will intensively crack down on illegal fishing including juvenile fish capture. Gyeonggi Province has 980 registered fishing vessels, including 549 in Hwaseong. The province will inspect these vessels for illegal activities such as operating outside designated zones, and on land will also crack down on illegal placement of fishing gear and storage or sale of illegal catches. The province plans to operate a private fisheries resource protection monitoring corps consisting of 30 members. From June 29 to July 31, the province inspected 417 fishing vessels through 48 operations, identifying 6 violations including unlicensed fishing and designated zone violations, resulting in 5 administrative sanctions and 3 legal prosecutions.

Fourth, illegal angling targets 94 angling vessels registered in the province, including 51 in Hwaseong, and approximately 3,807 water recreational vessels. Enforcement targets include juvenile fish capture, sale of catches, and illegal waste dumping. The province also plans to operate an angling environment protection guardian system consisting of 50 members. From July 18 to 31, the province conducted four on-site inspections and identified one violation of capture standards, resulting in administrative sanctions.

Fifth, the province will manage waste abandoned at coastal areas to create a clean marine environment. The annual volume of coastal waste collected by the province at 33 ports and harbors and 4 inhabited islands including Kukwhado and Ipardo is approximately 1,000 tons. The province has formed a coastal guardian corps of 31 members this year to conduct real-time garbage collection and disposal. The province plans to expand this to 100 members next year. Coastal garbage collected from January through July totals approximately 573 tons.

Kim Chung-beom, Director of Gyeonggi Province's Agriculture and Marine Affairs Bureau, stated, "Through the end of August, we will conduct intensive joint enforcement with Gyeonggi Special Prosecution Service, municipal and county governments, and the Coast Guard to eradicate illegal activities," and added, "While strengthening enforcement, we plan to actively support convenience facilities including restrooms, foot-washing stations, and garbage collection points for tourists and local residents to vitalize Gyeonggi waters."