S. Korea aims to turn reclaimed tidal flats into Asian biz hub

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea aims to transform huge tidal flats being reclaimed on the country's southwest coast into a new Northeast Asian business hub, the government said Tuesday.

The master plan calls for reducing a proportion of land set aside for farming
from the original 72 percent to 30 percent to allow more room for industry,
energy production, tourism and environmental protection zones.
Land set aside for industrial and other business purposes is to be increased to
43 percent from 28 percent.
Development plans for 27 percent of the reclaimed land not designated for
industrial or agricultural use will be put on hold for the time being, although
Seoul will allow some agricultural production pending future requirements.
The government said detailed development plans for 73 percent of the land will be
completed by 2020.
The plan mirrors a report released by the Korea Research Institute for Human
Settlements in early September, which will be made into law in late November.
Work to reclaim the tidal flats began in 1991, with government expenditures to
date reaching more than 2.8 trillion won (US$2.1 billion).
A 33-kilometer-long sea wall located 280 kilometers south of Seoul was completed
in April 2006. Water is being drained gradually from the area to make more usable
land available.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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