Attention turns to SaeManGeum’s development status after Jamboree

The Jamboree campsite in Buan-gun, North Jeolla Province, where the 25th World Scout Jamboree members left, looks quiet, on Aug. 8. [Photo by Yonhap]

With SaeManGeum still at the center of political wrangling after the 25th World Scout Jamboree, which was marred by heat-related illnesses, insect bites and other on-site challenges in the camp site, there are calls for a thorough review of the SaeManGeum reclamation project to ensure that the national-level development project moves forward smoothly.

According to the North Jeolla provincial government and the SaeManGeum Development and Investment Agency, the current progress of the area development project, which commenced in 1991, has reached a standstill at 48 percent. This ambitious undertaking involves constructing a 33.9 km-long seawall along the coasts of Jeonbuk, Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan, reclaiming a staggering 409 square kilometers of land from the sea. This project is a monumental national initiative, mirroring Korea’s largest-ever state project since its inception. Despite this, only 140 out of the designated 291 square kilometers of development land have been successfully reclaimed, highlighting a sluggish pace of progress. With the target of completing reclamation by 2050, there is a pressing need to address the project’s delayed advancement.

The Korea Rural Community Corporation, responsible for land preparation, commenced reclamation works on the Jamboree venue site only in January 2020, a mere eight months before the event, leading to disruptions in foundational facilities such as camping sites, restrooms, and showers, which were completed in December of the previous year.

The SaeManGeum project has traversed a tumultuous path for over three decades, embroiled in the currents of domestic political dynamics. Considering the recent controversies surrounding the Jamboree event, experts said the central and local governments, and the business community should participate together to systematically complete the project.

Experts attribute the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the SaeManGeum project to shifting project goals during each election cycle. Furthermore, as the project transitioned from a national to a regional initiative, its significance as a state undertaking dwindled, reflecting a lack of consistent government commitment.

“The initial purpose of the SaeManGeum project was to secure farmland, but as the times changed, the purpose changed, and in the process, the national project became a local project,” said Hong Jun-hyun, a public service professor at Chung-Ang University.

Some advocate for a corporate-led approach to the SaeManGeum project. Despite a significant budget of 22.79 trillion won ($17.2 billion), comprising government funds (12.14 trillion won), local contributions (950 billion won), and private capital (9.7 trillion won), both government and local authorities have struggled to play effective leadership roles over the project’s course.

Presently, the SaeManGeum Industrial Complex has made headway, with sections 1, 2, 5, and 6 already about 90 percent allocated. Notably, 16 companies, including SK on and LG Chem, have decided to establish their presence, particularly in the electric vehicle battery sector.

“The widening gap between the capital region and other areas is due to the concentration of major industrial jobs in the capital,” pointed out Heo Moon-gu, head of the National Balanced Development Research Center at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade. “Specialized zones and initiatives in non-capital regions could balance this phenomenon and generate high-quality employment opportunities, preventing a concentration of young generations in the capital.”

The SaeManGeum region is also actively pursuing a large-scale theme park project to boost tourism. According to the Jeonbuk Institute, if successful in attracting companies through the specialized zone designation, the project could yield 8.5 trillion won in production, 2.7 trillion won in added value, and create employment opportunities for 32,000 people.

Moreover, the addition of a railway station and an international airport near the SaeManGeum Industrial Complex could further amplify these economic effects.

“If cultural and tourism aspects had been considered during the initial development of the Jamboree site, issues like extreme heat and odor could have been mitigated,” said Kim Hyeong-joo, a civil engineering professor at Kunsan National University. “Utilizing the area for cultural and tourism purposes would ensure that even after the Jamboree event, its significance and value would persist into the future.”