Instructor under investigation for operating unregistered underwater leisure business
No insurance coverage, illegal activities continued for three years
Police urge verification of business registration and insurance before participating
The Mokpo Maritime Police Station in South Jeolla Province announced on August 14 that it has booked Instructor A on charges of violating the Act on the Safety and Promotion of Underwater Leisure Activities. Instructor A is under investigation for operating an unregistered underwater leisure business in the areas of Gwangju, Geoje, and Jeju.
According to the police, Instructor A obtained a qualification as an association-affiliated instructor in 2022. Without registering an underwater leisure business, he recruited trainees seeking scuba diving certification through social media and online communities. He is accused of charging fees ranging from 100,000 won to several million won per person and conducting business in locations such as Gwangju, Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province, and Seogwipo in Jeju.
The investigation revealed that Instructor A had not obtained insurance coverage, making it impossible to provide even minimal compensation in the event of an accident. The police also confirmed that he operated illegally for three years, from 2022 to this year. After determining the scale of his illegal profits, the police plan to notify the relevant tax office.
An official from the maritime police stated, "Unregistered underwater leisure business operators are not subject to mandatory safety inspections or safety education, which may delay response in the event of an accident. We urge everyone to always check whether a business is registered and insured before participating in underwater leisure activities."
Meanwhile, operating an underwater leisure business without registration can result in imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
