Jeju Region's First National Qualification Exam for Water Rescue Personnel Conducted

The Only National Certification Protecting Citizens' Lives and Safety on Water

Jeju Regional Coast Guard Headquarters

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters (Jeju) Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] The Jeju Regional Maritime Police Agency (Chief Oh Sang-kwon) announced on the 23rd that it plans to conduct the ‘2021 Jeju Area Water Rescue Specialist National Qualification Exam’ a total of four times (5.1, 7.2, 10.2, 11.28) starting from May 1 at the Jeju Sports Complex Indoor Swimming Pool.

This water rescue specialist national qualification exam is being held for the first time in the Jeju area and is expected to satisfy the demand of residents in Jeju aiming to obtain the water rescue specialist qualification.

Originally scheduled to be held from last year, it was not conducted due to reasons such as the closure of the practical test site (swimming pool) in accordance with local government quarantine guidelines amid COVID-19.

The water rescue specialist qualification is granted by the Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard to those recognized as having professional abilities to rescue people in distress on water, according to the Act on Search and Rescue on Water (abbreviated as Water Rescue Act). The national qualification system for water rescue specialists was established in July 2015 to enhance the water safety capabilities of Korean citizens.

The water rescue specialist qualification exam is open to anyone who has completed 64 hours of preliminary education, including 16 hours of theory and 48 hours of practical training, at one of the 31 educational institutions designated by the Korea Coast Guard.

The exam subjects include seven practical courses: ▲Swimming techniques (underwater swimming, head-up freestyle, breaststroke, trudgen) ▲Swimming rescue ▲Equipment rescue ▲Basic rescue ▲Comprehensive rescue ▲First aid ▲Equipment skills. Candidates must score at least 60 points out of 100 in total and at least 40 percent of the full score in each subject to pass. Detailed information on qualification, exam announcements, application methods, and procedures can be found on the Korea Coast Guard Water Rescue Specialist comprehensive information website.

Those who obtain the water rescue specialist qualification can work as lifeguards and safety management personnel at beaches, swimming pools, and water leisure businesses, and can also serve as water safety education instructors at designated educational institutions.

A representative of the Jeju Regional Maritime Police Agency stated, “We will conduct the exam under thorough quarantine measures, establishing an emergency communication system with local governments and health centers to prevent COVID-19 infection, and we plan to administer the exam fairly to produce and nurture professional water rescue personnel.”