Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Train 200 National Crew Members This Year

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 2nd that it will train 200 national crew members this year to create quality seafarer jobs and ensure a stable supply of domestic seafarers.

The national crew member training project, which began in 2019, is a program in which the Korea Seafarers Welfare and Employment Center receives recruitment demands from shipping companies, recruits job seekers who wish to become national crew members, provides customized training, and connects them to employment.

Last year, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries held a total of three job fairs in Busan, Yeosu, and other locations, supporting 140 new national crew members to secure employment with shipping companies. This year, the goal is to train a total of 200 new national crew members, and the number of job fairs will be expanded to four.

In addition to job fairs, recruitment of national crew members is conducted throughout the year on an ongoing basis. Anyone under the age of 40 can apply regardless of experience. For more details, inquiries can be made to the Employment Support Department of the Korea Seafarers Welfare and Employment Center.

Selected candidates will be supported with training costs, physical examination fees, employment preparation funds, and long-term sailing incentives, including a 2 to 6-week training course. Even after boarding, continuous monitoring will be conducted to ensure ongoing sailing opportunities.

The Korea Seafarers Welfare and Employment Center signed a business agreement with shipping companies seeking recruits last month and will begin recruiting job seekers in earnest from today.

Lee Jongho, head of the Seafarer Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "National crew members are key jobs that protect the national core industry of shipping," adding, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will continue to expand support for national crew members to provide quality seafarer jobs."