Support for 'Disadvantaged Area Fisheries Direct Payment' in Border Areas... 700,000 KRW per Fishing Household

Yearly Disadvantaged Fisheries Direct Payment.

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] From this year, border areas will also receive the 'Disadvantaged Area Fisheries Direct Payment'.

On the 27th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the selection of disadvantaged areas for 2020 and stated that applications will be accepted from April 2 to April 30.

The Disadvantaged Area Fisheries Direct Payment program is a system that supports direct payments to fishermen residing in disadvantaged areas who have annual seafood sales of 1.2 million KRW or more, or have fishing records of 60 days or more per year (per fishing household), to compensate their income. Since 2014, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has supported about 100,000 fishing households (cumulative) through this program until 2019.

Especially this year, in addition to existing island areas, northern maritime border areas can also be selected as disadvantaged areas. The Ministry reviewed the disadvantaged area applications submitted by local governments and selected a total of 349 towns, townships, and islands in 9 cities and provinces, including border areas, as support targets.

The direct payment unit price has also been increased by 50,000 KRW compared to last year, providing 700,000 KRW per fishing household annually. Since 30% of the direct payment is established as a community fund for fishing villages according to payment requirements, it is expected to contribute to the welfare improvement of fishing village residents and regional revitalization.

Fishermen who wish to apply for the direct payment can apply through the fishing cooperative or village management committee to the town, township, or neighborhood office. The government and local governments plan to review the applicant's mandatory residence requirements and select the final recipients around November to provide the direct payments. However, those who are employed (health insurance workplace subscribers), or whose household members, including the applicant, have a comprehensive real estate tax housing standard of 5 billion KRW or more in the previous year, or have the highest grade (5 billion KRW or more) in comprehensive income tax in the previous year, will be excluded from the payment target.

Lee Kyung-gyu, Director of Fisheries Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "This year, we expect more fishermen to benefit by expanding the disadvantaged fisheries direct payment areas to northern maritime border areas and increasing the support unit price. The government will continue to support the improvement of living conditions and income stability of fishermen in disadvantaged areas to promote regional revitalization."