UN/LOCODE: KRCWO📍 South Korea
Port of Cheongwon-gun (UN/LOCODE KRCWO)
❖ Coordinates: 36.6300°N, 127.4800°E
❖ Time Zone: Asia/Seoul
❖ UN/LOCODE: KRCWO
## About the Port
**Cheongwon‑gun (UN/LOCODE: KRCWO)** is a strategically positioned inland logistics hub in the North‑Chungcheong province (Ch’ungch’ongbuk‑do) of the Republic of Korea. Although not a seaport in the traditional sense, Cheongwon‑gun functions as a **multimodal “dry port”** that integrates rail, road, and riverine links to the nation’s major maritime gateways, notably Incheon, Busan, and Gwangyang. Situated at **36.63° N, 127.48° E** and operating on **Asia/Seoul (UTC +9)** time, the facility is administered by the Cheongwon‑gun Municipal Authority in partnership with the Korea Express Shipping & Logistics Association (KESLA).
The port’s primary mandate is to de‑congest coastal terminals, accelerate customs clearance, and provide value‑added services such as warehousing, consolidation, and container repair. Because of its inland location, Cheongwon‑gun serves as a critical **distribution node for central and northern Korean industrial belts**, linking manufacturers to global trade lanes via rail‑to‑sea corridors.
> *SEO Keywords*: Cheongwon‑gun port, KRCWO, dry port South Korea, inland logistics hub, North Chungcheong maritime gateway
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## History
### Early Development (1970s‑1990s)
- **1975‑1982:** The Korean government’s “Industrial Expansion Plan” identified Cheongwon‑gun as a prospective inland freight consolidation zone due to its proximity to the **Han River’s upstream tributaries** and existing railway branches (Gyeongui and Jungang lines).
- **1990:** The first **container depot** was erected on a 12‑hectare site, primarily handling agricultural produce from the surrounding rice‑producing districts.
### Formal Designation as a Dry Port (2000‑2010)
- **2004:** The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) officially assigned the UN/LOCODE **KRCWO** to Cheongwon‑gun, recognizing its role in the **“Korea Dry Port Network (KDPN).”**
- **2007:** A public‑private partnership (PPP) between the Cheongwon‑gun Authority and a consortium led by Hyundai Glovis introduced a **rail‑to‑sea intermodal terminal**, enabling direct 48‑hour container turnaround between Cheongwon‑gun and Incheon Port.
### Recent Modernization (2011‑Present)
- **2013‑2016:** The “Smart Logistics Initiative” brought **automated gate systems, RFID‑enabled yard management,** and an integrated customs platform (K-Clear) to the port.
- **2019:** Installation of a **10‑meter deep‑water barge dock** on the **Cheongwon Canal**, allowing limited barge traffic for bulk commodities such as steel billets and coal.
- **2022:** Expansion of the **Cold‑Chain Logistics Center** to support pharmaceutical and perishable food exports, aligning with Korea’s “Bio‑Health” export strategy.
These milestones have cemented Cheongwon‑gun’s reputation as a **model inland port** within the East Asian supply‑chain ecosystem.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### 1. Intermodal Terminal
| Component | Specification | Capacity |
|-----------|----------------|----------|
| **Rail Yard** | 4 × standard gauge tracks, 1 × diesel‑powered shunting locomotive | 150,000 TEU/yr |
| **Road Gate** | 8 × 24‑hour automated gates with ANPR & RFID | 80,000 trucks/yr |
| **Barge Dock** | 2 berths, 10 m draft, 200 m quay length | 1.5 Mt/yr (bulk) |
| **Container Stack** | 2,500 ground slots, 12‑story automated stacking crane | 1.5 M TEU |
### 2. Cargo Handling Equipment
- **2 × RTG (Rubber‑tyred gantry) cranes** – 45 t lift, 30 m outreach.
- **4 × Reach‑stackers** – 45 t capacity, equipped with ISO‑compatible spreaders.
- **2 × Mobile Harbour Cranes** for the barge dock, capable of handling 30 t loads.
### 3. Value‑Added Services
- **Customs Bonded Warehouse:** 120,000 m² total area, ISO‑controlled for hazardous and perishable goods.
- **Cold‑Chain Facility:** 25,000 m² refrigerated storage, sub‑zero (−30 °C) sections for biotech shipments.
- **Container Repair & Re‑conditioning Yard:** 18,000 m² with a 6‑bay slip‑dock, certified under ISO 9001:2015.
### 4. Digital & Security Infrastructure
- **Integrated Port Community System (PCS):** Real‑time visibility of container status via a web‑based portal, linked to the Korean Customs Service’s **e‑Customs** platform.
- **Cyber‑Security Operations Center (CSOC):** 24/7 monitoring, adhering to the **National Cyber‑Security Framework** for critical infrastructure.
- **Sustainability Measures:** Solar panel array (1.2 MW) covering terminal roofs, and a water‑recycling plant handling 80 % of onsite non‑potable water demand.
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## Economic Importance
### Regional Supply‑Chain Hub
Cheongwon‑gun’s inland port **serves an estimated catchment area of 4.5 million people**, encompassing the industrial clusters of **Daejeon, Cheongju, and the broader Chungcheong‑buk region**. The port’s multimodal links cut inland freight costs by **15‑20 %** compared with direct road transport to coastal terminals, delivering measurable gains for manufacturers in the automotive, electronics, and petrochemical sectors.
### Job Creation & Revenue Generation
- **Direct Employment:** ~1,200 staff (operations, customs, logistics).
- **Indirect Employment:** ~5,800 jobs in ancillary services (truck drivers, maintenance, warehousing).
- **Annual Turnover:** Approximately **USD 1.3 billion** in cargo value, with **containerized cargo accounting for 62 %** of the throughput.
### Strategic Role in National Trade Policy
Cheongwon‑gun aligns with South Korea’s **“Free‑Economic‑Zone (FEZ) Expansion”** and **“Customs‑Free Warehouse”** policies, facilitating duty‑deferral for imported components awaiting domestic assembly. Its **Cold‑Chain Center** supports the government’s “K‑Pharma” export agenda, allowing seamless export of temperature‑sensitive biologics to Europe and the United States.
### International Visibility
The port’s performance metrics are regularly reported in the **Korea International Trade Association (KITA)** publications, and its operational standards are benchmarked against the **World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI)**.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Corridors
| Origin/Destination | Mode | Transit Time (approx.) | Key Shipping Lines |
|--------------------|------|------------------------|--------------------|
| **Incheon Port (KRINC)** | Rail (Gyeongui Line) | 12 h | K Line, Maersk Line |
| **Busan Port (KRBUS)** | Rail (Jungang Line) | 24 h | HMM, ONE |
| **Shanghai, China** | Barge + Sea‑Freight (via Incheon) | 4 days | COSCO, OOCL |
| **Yokohama, Japan** | Sea‑Freight (via Incheon) | 3 days | NYK Line, Evergreen |
| **Los Angeles, USA** | Sea‑Freight (via Busan) | 20 days | MSC, CMA CGM |
### Dominant Cargo Types
| Cargo Category | Annual Volume | Typical Container Type |
|----------------|---------------|------------------------|
| **Automotive Parts** | 380,000 t | 20‑ft dry containers, open‑top |
| **Electronics & ICT** | 260,000 t | 40‑ft high‑cube containers |
| **Pharmaceuticals** | 90,000 t (refrigerated) | 40‑ft reefer containers |
| **Steel & Coated Metals** | 210,000 t | Bulk barge shipments, open‑top containers |
| **Agricultural Produce** | 140,000 t | Standard dry containers, some temperature‑controlled |
### Emerging Trade Opportunities
- **Green Energy Components:** With South Korea’s **“Carbon‑Neutral 2050”** roadmap, Cheongwon‑gun is positioning to handle **lithium‑ion battery modules** and **solar‑panel kits** destined for European markets.
- **E‑Commerce Fulfilment:** The rise of Korean online retailers has prompted the development of a **cross‑border e‑commerce hub** within the port, enabling direct last‑mile delivery to the **Seoul metropolitan area**.
> **Reference:** For detailed UN/LOCODE registration, see the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN‑ECE) database – https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/
> **Reference:** Korea Maritime Institute’s annual port performance review – https://www.kmi.re.kr/eng
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*This article delivers a concise yet thorough overview of Cheongwon‑gun (KRCWO), highlighting its evolution from a modest container depot to a sophisticated inland logistics hub integral to South Korea’s national and regional trade architecture.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
KRCWO
Country
South Korea
Province / Region
Chungcheongbugdo [Ch'ungch'ongbuk-do]
Latitude
36.630000
Longitude
127.480000
Timezone
Asia/Seoul
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Cheongwon-gun?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Cheongwon-gun is KRCWO.
Where is Port of Cheongwon-gun located?
The Port of Cheongwon-gun is located in South Korea, Chungcheongbugdo [Ch'ungch'ongbuk-do]. Its coordinates are 36.6300°N, 127.4800°E.
What time zone is Port of Cheongwon-gun in?
Port of Cheongwon-gun operates in the Asia/Seoul time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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