[1-Minute cut] [Nationwide Inside｜Jeonbuk(2)] [Field Report] “Saemangeum development serves politicians… 34 years in, residents feel no change”

[Cheonji Ilbo Jeonbuk=Reporter Kim Dong-hyun] It’s been 34 years since the Saemangeum development began. While “investment” has poured in, the “change” remains invisible.

“One time, I used to catch clams and swim with finless porpoises. Now the mudflats and the sea we had back then are all gone,” said a resident who has witnessed the site since the beginning. “There were so many news reports about companies coming in, but eventually it all fizzled out,” he added, expressing frustration.

Despite massive investments, locals say they feel no tangible improvement. “There are no people, only more foreign workers,” and “more than half the stores are empty, and by 7 p.m. they all shut down,” say local business owners, painting a bleak picture of a stagnant economy.

Among the 388 investment agreements signed by Jeonbuk Province, only 14.5% have been executed, and the employment fulfillment rate stands at just 13.3%.

Experts point to a lack of young workers and a mismatch between job offerings and youth employment needs. They also note that without a dedicated investment agency, the current structure—where civil servants manage everything from agreements to follow-ups—has its limitations.

‘Performance’ should not be measured in numbers, but in real change. Saemangeum now stands at the crossroads of that question.