GANGNEUNG CITY ENG - 솔향강릉

- Acceleration of the 8th Civilian Administration's Maritime Silk Road Economic City construction project -

​ The first-ever regular international container route docked at Gangneung's Okgye Port, marking a significant step towards the realization of the 'Maritime Silk Road Economic City', a key promise of the 8th Civilian Administration.

 As fruit of the 'Business Agreement for the Establishment of a Regular International Route at Gangneung Okgye Port' signed last April, an international container liner of Heung A Line Co., Ltd., which operates weekly between Japan, Busan, and Okgye, will make its first stop at Okgye Port on the afternoon of the18th (Fri).

 With Okgye Port now handling weekly container shipments, it lightens the burden of hefty export-import logistics costs for companies in Gangwon Special Autonomous Province. This paves the way for attracting new export-import businesses and creating quality jobs.

 Starting with the establishment of the regular international route, there's a plan to secure steady export-import volume and reflect Okgye Port in the 4th Harbor Basic Plan by 2025 with the aim to expand it with a 50,000-ton dock and a multi-purpose wharf capable of handling container logistics.

 Additionally, there is a policy designed to focus all administrative efforts on connecting major ports to natural biotech national industrial complexes, including Okgye Industrial Complex and East Coast Free Economic Zone (Okgye District), to propel Gangneung as a hub for integrated logistics in the East Sea Rim region.

 Previously, Gangwon Special Autonomous Province and Gangneung City have established the basis for administrative and financial support to international logistics intermediaries, shipping companies, and stevedoring companies handling regular exports and imports through amendments to the 'Gangwon-do International Trade Port Activation Support Ordinance' (March 3, 2023), the establishment of the 'Gangneung Okgye Port International Route Activation Support Ordinance' (April 12, 2023), and the signing of the ‘Business Agreement for the Establishment of a Regular International Route for Okgye Port Containers’ (April 27, 2023).

 Furthermore, based on the cooperation of related agencies such as the Donghae Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, Donghae Customs, and Donghae Coast Guard, they have completed the necessary discussions for the efficient handling of export and import containers, including dock safety reviews, port security assessments, and C.I.Q. (customs, immigration, quarantine) discussions.

 Lee Dong-jin, the representative of the leading company of this project, THK Co., Ltd., an international logistics intermediary, said, “We have been consulting with several related companies to utilize Okgye Port for container cargo exports and imports” and added, “Starting with this first arrival, we will do our best to ensure the early settlement and stable operation of the Okgye Port container regular international route through close consultation with the contracting parties”.

 Mayor Kim Hong-gyu of Gangneung said, “I thank all of you who have worked hard for the establishment of the international regular route and its first arrival, including Gangwon Special Autonomous Province, Donghae Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, and the related agencies and companies participating in the agreement”. He added, “We are making every effort to develop a large-scale port and its industrial hinterland that will take responsibility for Gangneung's future, which has the blessing of marine route resources, and we ask for the continued support and encouragement of related organizations, businesses, and citizens”.