12 of 52 facilities in Incheon — one in four — are over 30 years old; city's deterioration rate of 23.1% exceeds national average of 19.8%; 233 aging facilities nationwide, with breakwaters and outer structures hitting 26.7%

A breakdown of aging national fishing port facilities by 17 metropolitan and provincial governments as of August 2026. [Provided by Rep. Kim Seon-gyo's office]
A breakdown of aging national fishing port facilities by 17 metropolitan and provincial governments as of August 2026. [Provided by Rep. Kim Seon-gyo's office]

The deterioration of national fishing port facilities in Incheon has reached a level more serious than the national average, data released Tuesday showed.

Nationwide, roughly one in five national fishing port facilities is classified as aging. In Incheon, the ratio is closer to one in four — facilities that have stood for more than 30 years since completion.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Rep. Kim Seon-gyo of the People Power Party — a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee representing Yeoju and Yangpyeong-gun — Incheon had 52 national fishing port facilities as of August this year, of which 12 were classified as aging.

That puts Incheon's deterioration rate at 23.1 percent, 3.3 percentage points above the national average of 19.8 percent.

Among the country's 17 metropolitan and provincial governments, Incheon's rate ranked among the highest, trailing only North Gyeongsang Province at 28.0 percent, South Gyeongsang Province at 27.7 percent and North Jeolla Province at 27.6 percent.

A facility is classified as aging when 30 or more years have passed since its completion.

Nationally, 233 of the country's 1,177 national fishing port facilities were classified as aging as of August this year, for a deterioration rate of 19.8 percent.

The pace of deterioration is accelerating. The number of aging national fishing port facilities rose from 130 in 2021 to 141 in 2022, 163 in 2023, 176 in 2024 and 195 in 2025, before reaching 233 as of August this year.

The national deterioration rate has climbed steadily as well, rising from 13.1 percent in 2021 to 19.8 percent this year.

Particularly worrying is the condition of outer structures such as breakwaters, which fishing vessels and fishermen rely on most heavily.

As of August this year, 153 of the country's 573 outer structures at national fishing ports were classified as aging, putting the deterioration rate at 26.7 percent — more than double the 13.2 percent rate recorded for mooring facilities.

Among outer structures, breakwaters were in the worst shape: 93 of 236 were classified as aging, a deterioration rate of 39.4 percent. The rate for training walls stood at 44.4 percent and for detached breakwaters at 36.1 percent, while the sole groin surveyed was also classified as aging.

Mooring facilities are deteriorating as well. Of 604 mooring facilities nationwide, 80 were classified as aging, for a deterioration rate of 13.2 percent.

Among mooring structures, 51 of 280 small-vessel piers and 9 of 43 landing stages were classified as aging.

By region, the South Jeolla-Gwangju integrated special city had the highest number of aging national fishing port facilities at 69, followed by South Gyeongsang Province with 52, North Gyeongsang Province with 28, North Jeolla Province with 24, Gangwon Province with 21 and Incheon with 12. However, measured as a share of total facilities, Incheon's deterioration rate of 23.1 percent exceeded the national average.

"As the deterioration of national fishing port facilities increases every year, concerns are growing over safety and the declining functionality of fishing ports," Kim said. "Outer structures such as breakwaters in particular carry a high risk of serious accidents during typhoons and severe weather, so we must proactively inspect risk factors to prevent accidents."

With 12 of Incheon's 52 national fishing port facilities already more than 30 years old, experts say the city must move quickly to conduct detailed inspections and draw up repair and reinforcement plans for aging structures.

Port and fishing harbor facilities are directly tied not only to structural safety but also to the entry and departure of fishing vessels, the daily operations of fishermen and the ability to provide shelter during bad weather — making proactive safety management, rather than routine maintenance alone, an urgent priority.


gilbert@heraldcorp.com