Jeonbuk Gunsan-si "Minimizing Damage from Consecutive Fishing Boat Accidents"

Support Project for Enhancing Safety and Competitiveness in Fishing Industry

Promotion of 'Fishing Disaster Compensation Insurance Premium' Support Project

Gunsan City in Jeonbuk recently announced on the 9th that it has taken swift measures to address the consecutive damages caused by fishing vessel collisions and capsizing accidents occurring nationwide, including in Tongyeong City, Pohang City, and Jeju Island.

According to the city, it has decided to promote the fishing vessel safety enhancement support project to prevent maritime accidents and the nearshore fisheries disaster compensation insurance premium support project to ensure the safety of fishermen from fishing disasters.

A panoramic view of Gunsan City Hall. [Photo by Gunsan City]

A total budget of 250 million KRW will be invested to strengthen the safety and competitiveness of fishing vessel operations and to protect the lives and property of fishermen. Projects such as the 'Small Fishing Vessel Safety Equipment Support Project,' 'Fishing Vessel Accident Prevention System Construction Project,' and 'Eco-friendly Energy-saving Equipment Distribution Project' will be promoted.

Fishermen will also be provided with radar, GPS plotters, very high frequency digital selective calling (VHF-DSC) radios, life jackets, and vessel automatic entry/exit terminals (V-PASS).

Additionally, a budget of approximately 1.09 billion KRW will be allocated for fishing-related insurance subscriptions. Through insurance enrollment, fishing crew and vessels will be protected from fishing disasters, supporting stable fishery management activities.

Insurance premiums will also be supported for injuries, illnesses, and deaths that fishermen and fishery workers may suffer during fishing operations, aiming to expand the livelihood safety guarantees for fishermen.

Earlier, the city conducted on-site inspections. On March 18, in collaboration with Jeonbuk Province, Gunsan Coast Guard, and the Fisheries Cooperative's Fishing Vessel Safety Operation Bureau, fishing vessel safety inspections were carried out around Bieung Port with strengthened surveillance activities against fishing vessel safety accidents.

April is expected to be busier due to increased fishing activities and fishing visitors. A joint meeting with related agencies is scheduled for fishing vessel safety inspections. In response to the recent sharp increase in fishing vessel accidents, a joint inspection team with related agencies is on standby with heightened awareness.

The joint inspection team plans to focus more on checking and guiding compliance with safety rules, including thorough inspections of defects in major institutions and communication equipment, as well as the availability of life-saving equipment.

A Gunsan City official stated, "We urge everyone to carefully inspect fishing vessel equipment in advance during fishing activities and to always check whether life jackets are worn," adding, "We will make further efforts to increase the subscription rate of fishermen's disaster compensation insurance to prevent fishing vessel safety accidents and minimize human casualties, thereby reducing disaster damages."