New Cruising Destination - Korea?

by Nancy Knudsen on 23 May 2008 If northerly climes are your thing and you're thinking of circumnavigating the Pacific instead of taking the pirate prone route to the Med, there's a new cruising possibility in the offing - Korea. With the development that's in the pipeline, maybe even a bareboat charter along these as yet unspoiled shores would be an exotic alternative

No, Korea is not yet a yachting powerhouse, but as local writer Han Aran says, 'it plans to be one. Despite its potential to nurture a strong marine leisure industry given its geographical advantages as a peninsula, Korea has not eagerly pursued the field as a growth engine.

But finally the country has begun to acknowledge this potential and has said it wants to be at the centre of the industry.

In particular, two provinces are working harder than others to boost the growth of yachting in Korea: Gyeonggi-do (province) on the west coast and Gyeongsangnam-do on the south coast.

The inaugural Korean Boat Show is scheduled for 10-15 June 2008 in Gyeonggi-do (province) on the west coast , coinciding with the Korea Match Cup yachting tournament. The event organizers admitted that they have been working quietly on the project 'and now it’s time to sell the sizzle'.

One of the promoting companies KOTRA's Executive Graeme Worthington explains there are currently there are four marinas and around 4000 registered leisure boats in South Korea, but the forecasts indicate that with foreign and Korean government investment, currently at $200 million, this is likely to boom within the next five to 10 years. There are 12 marina projects underway in the Province and a total of 38 around the country.

According to Governor Kim Moon-Soo, the West Coast of Gyeonggi Province – offering proximity to China and Japan – also boasts vast marine development potential. 'With a coastline that stretches over 350 kilometers and tidal flat areas that encompass more than 150 square kilometers, the West Coast provides an ideal foundation for the marine recreation and tourism industry that is developing rapidly in Korea.' (Well, Mr Kim, we want deep water, not tidal flats!)

Almost two hundred investors from 15 nations are also expected to participate in the Boat Show. People in a broad range of business areas, including boat manufacturing, boat and yacht parts, marine sports equipment, suits and accessories for water sports, and marina facilities are to come, offering golden business opportunities for small and medium-sized Korean companies.

The province government of Gyeongsangnam-do plans to turn the picturesque sceneries of the numerous islands along the south coast into a world-renowned tourist attraction armed with new marine and high-tech industries.

To that end, the province is eager to foster the south coast's yachting industry. The local government plans to build marinas for as many as 2,000 yachts in the near future.

All this activity means that it will end up a viable and interesting coastline, with marinas and repair facitilities, cruising advice and other sailing boats to be seen, and a practical stopover for the cruising sailor heading for Japan, - and there are more of those every year.......