Gyeonggi Province will conduct intensive crackdowns on illegal activities from July 14 to July 25 in order to eradicate unauthorized occupation around beaches that are popular among residents during the summer vacation season.
Although beaches are increasingly important as spaces for residents' relaxation and leisure activities, and require proper management, illegal activities such as unauthorized occupation of public waters and the installation of illegal facilities within fishing port areas continue to occur.
The main targets of the investigation are: ▲ unauthorized occupation or use of public waters without permission ▲ failure to comply with restoration orders ▲ operation of unregistered restaurants ▲ abandonment of obstacles within fishing port areas.
Unauthorized Occupation and Illegal Activity Investigation Poster by Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police at the Beach
If someone occupies or uses public waters without permission, or operates a restaurant without reporting it, they may face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won under the Public Waters Management and Reclamation Act and the Food Sanitation Act, respectively.
In addition, if a person is caught illegally occupying or using public waters and fails to comply with a restoration order, they may be subject to up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won under the Public Waters Management and Reclamation Act. If obstacles such as abandoned vessels are left within fishing port areas, the penalty may be up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.
Kiido, head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police, stated, "Public waters are spaces for everyone and should not be privately occupied for the benefit of certain individuals. We will work to eradicate illegal acts that privatize public property without authorization, protect public resources, and provide residents with a clean Gyeonggi Sea."
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