Moon Geum-ju: "Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Neglects Safety Negligence on Mudflats"

Increase in Accidents Last Year... Double-Digit Death Toll
"Urgent Promotion of Designation of 'Gaetbeol Safety Management Zone'"

Assemblyman Moon Geum-ju

Recently, accidents caused by safety negligence have been occurring repeatedly in tidal flats, but the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is being criticized for doing nothing.

On the 25th, Moon Geum-ju, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Goheung, Boseong, Jangheung, and Gangjin), analyzed the National Assembly inspection data submitted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and found that the number of tidal flat accidents, which had been steadily increasing over the past five years, slowed down in 2022 but rose again last year.

The number of deaths over five years totaled 34, averaging about six per year, but last year the death toll rose to double digits. The main cause of accidents was “carelessness,” accounting for 63% of the total, followed by unawareness of tides (27%), bad weather (5%), drinking (3%), and illness (1%).

Management of tidal flat safety accidents is carried out by the Coast Guard based on the “Act on Prevention of Coastal Accidents,” conducting patrols and access control. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries can also designate areas with a high risk of safety accidents as “Tidal Flat Safety Management Zones” based on the “Act on Sustainable Management and Restoration of Tidal Flats and Surrounding Areas” (hereinafter referred to as the Tidal Flat Act), which was enacted in 2020. These zones perform necessary tasks to prevent safety accidents, such as ▲installing signs and markers for access guidance ▲installing life-saving facilities.

However, since the enactment of the Tidal Flat Act, no Tidal Flat Safety Management Zones have been designated by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, and there is no budget allocated for tidal flat safety accident prevention projects.

Rep. Moon emphasized, “Tidal flats are places visited not only by fishermen but also by many tourists. Despite the continuous occurrence of tidal flat accidents, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is standing by and fostering safety negligence,” adding, “The designation of ‘Tidal Flat Safety Management Zones’ must be promptly promoted through consultations with related ministries, local governments, and local residents.”