Original Korean article: 경인일보
Korean East-West Power has applied for development permission for the "Haneui Wind" offshore wind project, a 2,000 MW facility planned near Socheong Island in Incheon. The company is preparing to obtain a power generation license for the project, which is scheduled to begin construction in 2031.
However, the project faces strong opposition from local fishing communities. The proposed site is located in the West Sea Special Management Zone, specifically in fishing blocks 151 and 152, which are major spawning and fishing grounds for blue crabs. Fishermen argue that the offshore wind farm would severely disrupt their livelihoods and damage one of Korea's most important crab fisheries.
Residents of Baengnyeong Island have also raised safety concerns about the project. They contend that the proposed location is dangerously close to critical maritime routes that serve as emergency evacuation corridors during inter-Korean crises and North Korean provocations. The residents argue that the wind farm infrastructure could obstruct these vital safety passages and threaten civilian security.
The conflicting interests between renewable energy development and local economic and security concerns have created significant tension in the region, with fishing communities and island residents mobilizing against the project's approval.
