Gunsan in North Jeolla Province was selected as the local government with jurisdiction over the offshore reclaimed land, including the Saemangeum New Port breakwater. The offshore reclaimed land for the Saemangeum New Port development project is also set to be attributed to Gunsan.
However, this result is not the final decision. This is because any local government that objects can file a lawsuit with the Supreme Court. Previously, Gimje, Gunsan, and Muan have repeatedly clashed over jurisdiction for other areas within Saemangeum.
◇Gunsan selected as the local government with jurisdiction over Saemangeum New Port reclaimed land
On this day, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) selected the local government that will have jurisdiction over the offshore reclaimed land for the Saemangeum New Port development project and the offshore reclaimed land, including the Saemangeum New Port breakwater.
Both areas were decided to be attributed to Gunsan. The offshore reclaimed land for the Saemangeum New Port development project lies off the front sea of Sea Dike No. 2 and covers 227,172.1 square meters. The offshore reclaimed land, including the Saemangeum New Port breakwater, lies off the front sea of Sea Dike No. 2 between Muneo Island and Bian Island and measures 31,731.9 square meters.
These facilities are planned to be used as port facilities, including berthing facilities, an administrative pier, an access road, and a breakwater, as well as fishing vessel protection facilities.
The procedure for deciding jurisdiction over reclaimed land begins under the Local Autonomy Act with an application by the reclamation licensing authority or the head of a local government. If there is no objection to the application, the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) decides in accordance with the application. If there are differences of opinion among local governments, the decision is made based on the deliberation and resolution of the Central Committee for the Settlement of Local Government Disputes (Jungbunwi).
The head of the Gunsan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries applied to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) for a jurisdiction decision on the reclaimed land in January this year. After that, Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan submitted their opinions on the jurisdiction decision, and the Jungbunwi deliberation began in February this year. Through a total of seven deliberations and one on-site visit, the Jungbunwi heard the views of the heads of cities and counties that had differing opinions on the jurisdiction over the reclaimed land, as well as those of related agencies.
The Jungbunwi said it unanimously selected the local government with jurisdiction after comprehensively reviewing the considerations for deciding jurisdiction over reclaimed land presented in previous Supreme Court rulings. It focused on the efficient use of new land, adjacency to nearby areas, the locations of natural terrain and artificial structures, administrative efficiency and residents' convenience, and the benefits lost due to reclamation.
Gunsan said that once the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) notifies the result of this decision, it will register and manage the area in the cadastral records after completing the reclaimed land completion inspection.
◇North Jeolla family feud embers remain … "conflicts between adjacent areas should be avoided"
Saemangeum was created by building the world's longest sea dike (33.9 kilometers) on the West Sea coast of North Jeolla. It covers 409 square kilometers, about 140 times the size of Yeouido in Seoul. More than 60% of this area has not had its jurisdiction decided.
As a result, local governments are clashing over jurisdiction for areas without finalized lot numbers. They have been in conflict over jurisdiction within Saemangeum, which was created by reclaiming the sea. Gunsan, Gimje, and Muan are representative examples. Whenever a jurisdictional area is designated, they each claim it as "their land."
The jurisdictional conflict has continued for quite some time. Jurisdiction over the Saemangeum Sea Dike (33.9 kilometers) was concluded by a Supreme Court ruling in 2021. Over this period, court battles went on for more than 10 years. Sea Dike No. 1 (4.7 kilometers) was attributed to Buan County, No. 2 (9.9 kilometers) to Gimje, and Nos. 3, 4, and 5 (19.3 kilometers) to Gunsan. In addition, when the Saemangeum east-west road, waterfront city, north-south axis road 2, and Mangyeong District 6 drainage levee were decided to be under Gimje's jurisdiction, Gunsan and Buan filed lawsuits with the Supreme Court. Among these, the waterfront city is being built on land known as the "golden yolk" of Saemangeum.
Accordingly, the Jungbunwi took the unusual step of attaching a statement to its resolution on this day, expressing the hope that conflicts between areas adjacent to Saemangeum will be avoided and that, through consultation and cooperation, Saemangeum can grow into a global hub for new industries. This reflects the repeated, sharp conflicts among local governments adjacent to Saemangeum. Any local government that objects to this decision can file a lawsuit with the Supreme Court within 15 days from the date it is notified of the result.