• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.139-152
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• 2008

China's rapid growth of economy and developing logistics facilities such as sea and air ports can give the good effects to increase the trade and logistics cargo volumes within Pan Yellow Sea Economic Bloc which consists of Korea, China, Japan and Russia. These phenomenon also stimulate the development of the West Coastal Integrated Belt in South Korea. In the past 20th century, South Korea's advanced and developed areas were located on the Kyeong-Bu Axis, the straight line of Seoul and Busan. However, due to the china's effect, this axis is moving into the West Coast area between Incheon (Seoul) and Mokpo, which is closely located to China. In this aspect, sea ports located in West Coast of Korea have shown the steep increase in container and non-container cargo volumes. With regard to the changing environments in sea ports, this paper's aim is to investigate the developing potential of Gunsan (Saemangum) area located on mid of West Coast. As results, targeted area have shown the potential in terms of port network, supply chain management and transferring location for container cargoes. Moreover, for implementing the suitable roles, construction of New Saemangun port, closely located in Gunsan port, is needed to overcome the limitations of Gunsan port.