Month-long inspections from Monday to identify delays from rising raw material costs, permit backlogs

Ministry shifts focus from urging spending to resolving root causes of project delays

Photo not related to article [Getty Images Bank]
Photo not related to article [Getty Images Bank]

The government will conduct on-site inspections of port and coastal improvement projects to prevent delays in executing an annual budget of around 2 trillion won ($1.51 billion), which has been hampered by rising raw material costs and permit backlogs. Rather than simply urging faster spending, the inspections will focus on identifying and resolving administrative procedures and unreasonable practices that slow construction.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Sunday it will carry out "fiscal execution field inspections" at 16 major port and coastal improvement project sites nationwide from Monday through Nov. 27.

The inspections are designed to ensure the roughly 2 trillion won in annual port and coastal social overhead capital budget is executed without disruption. Inspectors will directly assess difficulties faced at construction sites, including rising raw material prices, changing project conditions, and delays in permits and administrative procedures.

The ministry is moving away from its previous approach of simply encouraging budget spending and will instead concentrate on resolving the underlying causes blocking project progress. It plans to examine unreasonable practices and excessive administrative burdens and develop on-the-ground remedies.

Issues that can be resolved immediately during the inspections will be addressed on the spot. Matters requiring coordination with relevant agencies or regulatory changes will be tracked separately until solutions are found.

After the inspections conclude, the ministry will maintain a standing communication channel between project sites and its headquarters. It also plans to strengthen follow-up management by continuously monitoring the implementation of improvement tasks.

The ministry expects the inspections to reduce uncertainty in project execution, help build port and coastal infrastructure on schedule, and contribute to revitalizing regional economies.

"These inspections are not simply about urging budget execution — they are about the government directly listening to difficulties in the field and removing obstacles to project progress," said Kong Du-pyo, director general of the ministry's Port Bureau. "We will actively support the timely execution of the 2 trillion won annual budget so that port and coastal infrastructure can be built without disruption and its benefits can flow through to regional economic revitalization."


adastra@heraldcorp.com