Presentations

Abstract

Offshore wind is central to South Korea’s energy transition, yet its expansion has been slowed by conflicts with coastal communities and fishers. This paper analyzes stakeholder dynamics in five major development regions along Korea’s southwest coast—Incheon, Yeosu, Shinan, Yeonggwang, and Ulsan—where projects ranging from 7 to 9 GW each are under planning or early implementation. Based on in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 83 stakeholder organizations—including municipal officials, developer associations, resident groups, civil society organizations, and especially diverse fisher groups—the study compares governance models and patterns of community engagement. The five regions represent different modes of project governance: strong local government leadership (Shinan), private developer-led approaches mediated by trusted research institutions (Incheon), hybrid public–private negotiation (Yeosu), and private developer-driven projects in both Ulsan and Yeonggwang. Findings reveal that the fisher community cannot be treated as a homogeneous stakeholder. Their positions vary by gear type, fishing ground overlap with project sites, and expectations for compensation or long-term revenue sharing. While some cooperatives demand strict exclusion zones and substantial compensation, others conditionally accept projects under guarantees of “wind pension” style benefit-sharing. Across cases, governance structures that rely on top-down information delivery often triggered distrust, whereas intermediary “bridging organizations” (such as local research centers or fisher associations with recognized legitimacy) improved transparency and fostered conditional acceptance. The comparative analysis underscores that successful offshore wind development in Korea requires flexible, regionally adapted engagement strategies. Mechanisms that combine distributive justice (fair compensation and benefit sharing) with procedural justice (inclusive, representative participation of both residents and fishers) are most effective in reducing opposition and building durable social acceptance. Lessons from these five regions offer practical insights for policymakers and developers designing participatory governance frameworks in other emerging offshore wind markets.