‘바다 없는 고장’ 보은, 연어·송어 양식 꿈 무산됐다

A fishing village in Chungbuk, Baesa-eomeon, saw its dream of raising and distributing salmon and mackerel crumble. After two years of pursuing the business, a private entrepreneur gave up on the project due to rising costs of raw materials, equipment, and labor, as well as the unclear economic viability. The Chungbuk government announced on the 27th that the private entrepreneur had submitted the termination of the "Salting and Processing of Salmon and Mackerel (Green Mackerel) Industrialization Project" as part of a government-sponsored private venture.

The entrepreneur and the Chungbuk government had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in August 2024, with the total project budgeting at ₩197 billion 600,000 won, including ₩59.31 billion from the national budget, ₩17.71 billion from the provincial budget, ₩41.6 billion from the governmental budget, and ₩79 billion from private capital.

The plan was to build a 3,300㎡ salmon and mackerel farm, as well as a 1,980㎡ processing and distribution facility, with the aim of distributing these fish nationwide starting in 2028. The entrepreneur had researched international examples of salmon and mackerel farms in countries like Switzerland and prepared for facility construction after the basic plan was approved by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

However, the business was ultimately abandoned due to challenges posed by rising raw material, equipment, and labor costs, which increased the financial burden during the 4-5 year period when sales were not yet generating revenue. The entrepreneur requested a reduction in the burden burden for private entrepreneurs from 40% to 20% of the total, but both the Chungbuk government and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries declined.

Chungbuk's Animal and Fishery Team leader Park Hyechang said that while the private entrepreneur had requested a reduction in the burden, the government and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries declined due to concerns about fairness among other businesses and financial stability. With the termination of the project, all hopes for salmon and mackerel farming and distribution in Baesa-eomeon have been dashed.

Park Hyechang expressed disappointment, saying that despite the absence of a "sea," Baesa-eomeon's favorable location and excellent transportation links could have been utilized for such a project, but the disappointment is great that the venture was abandoned before it even began.