The construction of the Incheon Port International Passenger Wharf, a project designed to promote cruise tourism that is emerging as a trend while meeting the rapidly growing demand from passengers and container cargoes between Korea and China is set to be commenced.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Korea (Incheon Port Authority) is planning to hold a groundbreaking ceremony of the development project of the Incheon Port International Passenger Wharf, which will suggest a new development direction of the Incheon Port, on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, at A-am Logistics Complex #2 located in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon.

The groundbreaking ceremony will draw attendance from about 300 dignitaries including, MLTM's Vice Minister for Maritime Affairs Joo Sung-ho, Mayor of Incheon Song Yeong-gil, lawmaker Joo Seung-yong, lawmaker Hwang Woo-yeo, municipal council members, and officials from the political, governmental, and port sectors.

The Incheon Port International Passenger Wharf expects to see about 2.2 million annual users, being developed as a project where an international passenger terminal, seven 30K-ton-car-ferry berths, one 150K-ton-cruise berth, will be built, with an investment of KRW 560 billion till the year 2016 with an aim to build facilities for entering of ports by cruises that are on the rise as a new maritime tourism industry while at the same time meeting the increasing demand from international maritime passengers.

As a first phase project, till 2014, two car ferry berths will be first developed at 80K-ton-cruise levels, so that there won't be any problems in welcoming visitors for the Asian Games Incheon 2014.

Located at the waters off the front of A-am Logistics Complex #2 that is set to be developed as the hub of logistics of the Incheon Port, the Incheon Port International Passenger Wharf is expected to create synergy effects in conjunction with the logistics depot.  Furthermore, in the hinterland area created by the reclamation of dredging sand at a size of 1.1M sq meters, a wide array of waterfront cultural facilities are being planned to be built, which will enable the Incheon Port International Passenger Wharf to be fully qualified as a gateway port for the international community, promoting maritime tourism as well.

The Incheon area, thanks to this project, is projecting to see a production inducement effect of KRW 710 billion and an employment inducement effect of 5,200 people, and furthermore, from the nation's global competitiveness perspective, a production inducement effect of KRW 1.4 trillion and an employment inducement effect of 11,000 people are expected to be generated.