Wando-gun, the No.1 Seafood Hub, Successfully Hosts the 13th Seafood Workers' Day Celebration

Over 1,500 Fisheries Professionals Nationwide Gather to Strengthen Unity

Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 17th that the 13th Fisheries Day commemorative event, held under the theme "Open Fishing Villages, Young Steps, New Fisheries Power," was successfully held at the Cheonghaejin Sports Center.

“Fisheries Day” is a legally designated commemorative day (April 1) established to raise public awareness of the value of the fisheries industry and fishing villages and to enhance the pride of fisheries workers. This year, it was held in Wando-gun, known as the hometown of abalone and seaweed.

The event was hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and organized by the Korea Fisheries Association, Jeollanam-do, and Wando-gun. On the day, Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, Shin Woo-cheol, Mayor of Wando-gun, Roh Dong-jin, Chairman of the Korea Fisheries Industry Federation, and over 1,500 fisheries workers from across the country attended.

The opening ceremony performance is taking place at the 13th Fisheries Day commemorative event.
[Photo by Wando-gun]

In particular, students from Wando Fisheries High School and Korea Fisheries Venture University, who are future talents in the marine fisheries industry, attended, adding significance to the event.

The commemorative event included a congratulatory performance, welcome speech, commemorative address, awards for meritorious persons, and a performance themed “The Future Drawn with 900,000 Fisheries Workers, the Dream of Fisheries Workers.”

Mayor Shin Woo-cheol expressed gratitude for the hard work of fisheries workers who have led the development of Korea’s fisheries industry in his welcome speech, saying, “Although there are many practical difficulties such as climate change and economic recession, let us combine our wisdom and capabilities to overcome the crisis together.”

He added, “Our county will further strengthen the competitiveness of traditional industries and focus on future marine industries such as marine healing based on marine resources to create a more prosperous fishing village.”

Minister Kang Do-hyung said in his commemorative address, “We will do our best to foster the fisheries industry as a sustainable future growth industry and create fishing villages where people want to live,” adding, “We will nurture Wando abalone as an export strategic item and actively support Wando to become a center for marine healing tourism and marine culture.”

Awards were presented to a total of 14 people, including Bae Gi-il, CEO of Sehwa Seafood Co., Ltd., who contributed to surpassing 1 trillion won in seaweed exports for the first time in 2023 (Silver Tower Industrial Medal); Lee Seong-bae, Chairman of Jangheung County Fisheries Cooperative, who contributed to increasing fishermen’s income through successful cultivation of Kkosiraegi and development of processed foods (Silver Tower Industrial Medal); and Kim Cheol-beom, Manager of Wando Abalone Co., Ltd., who worked hard on abalone exports (Ministerial Citation).

Before the commemorative event, a symposium titled “Future Food Crisis, the Role of Fisheries and Fishing Villages” was held at the Wando Living Culture Center.

The symposium featured presentations and comprehensive discussions on ways to strengthen the competitiveness of the fisheries industry to enhance food security.

Meanwhile, to commemorate the holding of the “Fisheries Day” event, Wando-gun conducted village fishery ground maintenance and marine litter collection in all towns and townships.

On the 12th, an event was also held to release 10,000 juvenile fish (spotted sea bass) to raise awareness of the value of fishery resources and the importance of the marine ecosystem.

Wando = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil just8440@asiae.co.kr