Proposal for the Expansion of Research on the South Korean Marina Development Project

Kim, J.-S. and Jang, S.-H., 2021. Proposal for the expansion of research on the South Korean Marina Development Project. In: Lee, J.L.; Suh, K.-S.; Lee, B.; Shin, S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Crisis and Integrated Management for Coastal and Marine Safety. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 114, pp. 345–349. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The South Korean Marina Development Project includes a long-term plan to construct an industrial cluster and a marina business model by developing marinas nationwide since 2010. This plan aims to develop coastal/fishing regions across the country into leisure hotspots. Building on active support from the government, this led to the establishment of the Second Marina Basic Plan in 2020, making this the largest marine leisure project in the country to date. Unfortunately, many marinas across the country face severe difficulties owing to various causes. In this study, we aimed to suggest new directions for research on the Marina Development Project as part of a series of academic efforts to resolve problems with the project. To this end, we conducted a literature review to explore (1) the current project and the directions of previous research by inspecting “the current state of the Marina Development Project and related research trends” and (2) “the expansion of research on the Marina Development Project.” More specifically, we claim that there is a need for “critical research examining the nature of the problems that have caused failure to date” and for a “cultural approach to participants.” Finally, we also emphasize the need for “community governance research” as a practical and long-term solution. This expansion of research can guide recovery from the various difficulties faced by the current Korean Marina Development Project.