By Lee Hyo-sik
The government will start building large-scale docking facilities on Yeonpyeong, Baengnyeong and three other islands near the North Korean border in the West Sea next year to accommodate 5,000-ton naval ships.
Ulleung and four other islands in the East and South Seas will also see piers and terminals expanded.
The move is designed to more effectively defend the nation’s territorial waters in the wake of North Korea’s attacks on Yeonpyeong Island — larger ships will be able to evacuate residents in an emergency, while Navy ships can anchor there.
Currently, only 1,000-ton ships or smaller are able to dock at the islands, with no berthing facilities available for bigger warships or Coast Guard vessels. Additionally, the seawall installed on Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo will be reinforced to make it easier for ships to dock at the pier even under bad weather conditions.
In a report to President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said it will put the 10 islands under direct state management in 2011 as part of efforts to more systemically manage Korea’s marine territories and carry out development projects. Currently, the islands are administered by each municipality.
Minister of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs Chung Jong-hwan said if Yeonpyeong and other islands were made state-managed harbors, it would be easier to evacuate residents in emergencies such as last month’s North Korean attack on Yeonpyeong Island.
“It will also be easier for warships to maneuver in waters surrounding the islands and will help the navy defend our territorial waters,” Chung said.
If designated as state-administered harbors, port facilities will be either greatly improved or expanded to accommodate large naval ships. Additionally, passenger liners will be able to operate between the islands and the mainland, bringing in more tourists.
Japan’s claims over the Dokdo Islets and illegal fishing by Chinese boats in domestic waters have encouraged the government to take measures to defend the country’s territorial waters.
Meanwhile, the ministry said it will continue to implement the controversial four-river refurbishment project in 2011.
President Lee Myung-bak commented that the 22-trillion-won scheme will contribute to improving the environment, create jobs and bolster regional economies.
“There is no doubt that the four-river project is environmentally friendly. It will be completed next year, which will greatly improve the quality of life for Koreans,” Lee said.
The ministry also unveiled a plan to start building a 30-kilometer-long high-speed railway between Suwon and Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province in 2011. The construction of the KTX line connecting Osong in North Chungcheong Province and Gwangju in South Jeolla Province will be completed by 2014, it said.
A route map of the Great Train Express (GTX), which will connect cities in Gyeonggi Province and downtown areas of Seoul by a high-speed underground train, will be decided in January, prior to a full-scale implementation of the project.
The ministry also said it will raise toll fees for vehicles operating on chronically congested roads during rush hours, while allowing low-cost airlines to operate more international flights.