In this study, we explore the complex dynamics between the inherent growth limitations and the untapped developmental possibilities of regional ports, with a primary focus on the operational trajectory of Yeongil Bay Port in Pohang. Despite its debut as a strategic gateway intended to alleviate the concentration of cargo in major hubs such as Busan and Ulsan, the port has consistently struggled with a significant disparity between projected capacity and actual throughput. In this research, we address the fundamental question of whether such cargo scarcity is a systemic inevitability for local ports operating in the shadow of dominant international hubs. While conventional literature has extensively categorized the determinants of port growth, it often fails to provide a solution to the deeper structural barriers that fix regional competitiveness. To transcend these limitations, in this paper, we introduce a bifurcated strategic model: leveraging immediate marine-cultural branding to revitalize the port as a vibrant tourist destination in the short term, which in turn serves as a catalyst for a long-term transition toward stable, logistics-oriented industrial evolution. By integrating maritime heritage, such as haenyeo (traditional female divers) traditions and local myths, into the port’s identity, we argue that passenger-driven economic vitality can eventually facilitate the structural demand necessary for sustainable cargo logistics.