Four harbors in Ganghwa-gun and Yeongjong-gu targeted for upgrades through 2029
City seeks additional sites to accelerate coastal renewal
Incheon has launched a large-scale revitalization program to overhaul aging infrastructure in its fishing villages and inject new economic energy into the communities.
The city announced Tuesday it will push ahead with the "Fishing Village New Deal 3.0" program, backed by a total budget of 20 billion won ($14.7 million). The initiative focuses on linking fishing harbors with their surrounding coastal communities to improve deteriorating living conditions.
Beyond expanding physical infrastructure, the city plans to develop tourism and income-generating opportunities that draw on each area's distinct local character, with the aim of directly raising residents' real incomes.
The program covers two zones — Seondu Harbor and Seondu 4-ri Harbor in Ganghwa-gun, and Yedanpo Harbor and Sammok Harbor in Yeongjong-gu.
The city will channel 10 billion won into each zone, for a combined 20 billion won, with construction set to run from 2027 through 2029.
A defining feature of the project is that residents have been built into the process from the planning stage, with locals directly involved in identifying needs and shaping operations.
Through this approach, the city aims to develop programs tailored to each community and secure a self-sustaining operational foundation that outlasts the project itself.
Incheon is not stopping at the current four sites. The city has applied for additional slots under the program's 2027 funding round to broaden support for coastal communities, submitting applications for two sites in Ganghwa-gun and two in Ongjin-gun. It is awaiting the final selection results.
"Through the Fishing Village New Deal 3.0 program, we will dramatically improve living conditions in our fishing villages and strengthen their tourism appeal, helping build Incheon into a vibrant maritime city," a city official said. "We also hope the additional applicant sites will fare well, bringing a new wave of growth to fishing communities across Incheon."
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
