By Jun Ji-hye
Local governments are fiercely competing to host the envisioned Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs after President-elect Park Geun-hye announced she would resurrect it.
Once revived, the ministry will likely gain further momentum as it will be in charge of the Korea Coast Guard as well as affairs related to marine resources and fisheries.
Following the announcement, many local governments were on alert to attract the ministry as the transition team did not clarify where it would be located.
Among others, the southern port city of Busan has keen expectations because Park implied during her presidential campaign that she would build up the ministry there.
The revival of the ministry was one of seven major pledges targeting Busan while the President-elect campaigned there.
The port city has already made an official proposal toward to host the ministry. It stresses the city’s merits as the host, highlighting it has been regarded as the nation’s capital of ocean affairs.
In response, 12 organizations and groups in Incheon, including the Incheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, issued a statement saying they oppose Busan’s move to attract the ministry.
“If Park builds the government department in a certain city, it will only worsen regional conflict. It will cause hardship for her to achieve national unity,” they said.
Sejong City has also joined the competition by claiming that the ministry might be isolated if it is separated from other departments. It stressed that the ministry originally was supposed to move to Sejong City in accordance with the balanced national development policy of the late President Roh Moo-hyun’s administration.
South Jeolla Province is planning to nominate Mokpo or Yeosu as a candidate, stressing the two cities are abundant in marine resources.
The ministry was initially launched in 1996 but abolished in 2008 when President Lee Myung-bak transferred its functions to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.