A Total of 732 Fishing Boats Registered and Operating in the Province
Nearly Half Have a Capacity of 13 or More Passengers
City and County Governments, Coast Guard, and Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority Participate
Safety Training Conducted, Including Provision of Life Jackets
More than 40% of fishing boat accidents in the Jeonnam region occurred concentrated in the fall. The photo shows a fishing boat safety inspection site. Provided by Jeonnam Province.
Four out of every ten fishing boat accidents in the Jeonnam region occurred during the fall season. Jeonnam Province is launching special safety management measures to prevent fishing boat accidents.
According to Jeonnam Province on September 21, 2025, over the past five years (2020 to 2024), 40.6% of all fishing boat-related accidents in the province occurred in the fall. This is attributed to the increased number of visitors during this period, as fish species such as hairtail, which are mainly caught in the fall, are distributed along the Jeonnam coastline. This year as well, the number of fishing tourists in the region is expected to surge dramatically starting from the Chuseok holiday.
To prevent fishing boat accidents during the fall, Jeonnam Province will conduct joint safety inspections of fishing boats in the province until October 17, in cooperation with city and county governments, the Korea Coast Guard, and the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority.
As of September 16, a total of 732 fishing boats are registered in 15 cities and counties across Jeonnam, including Mokpo. Jeonnam Province will prioritize intensive inspections for fishing boats with a capacity of 13 or more passengers and a high frequency of departures, boats with a history of accidents, and those that have not undergone safety inspections in the past two years.
There are 365 fishing boats with a capacity of 13 or more passengers, accounting for nearly half (49.8%) of all fishing boats in the province.
The main inspection items include: ▲ ensuring an adequate number of life jackets and life buoys ▲ equipping safety devices such as fire extinguishers and first-aid kits ▲ preparing a passenger list and verifying identification. On-site safety training for fishing boat owners will also be conducted in parallel.
Jeon Changwoo, Director of the Eco-Friendly Fisheries Division of Jeonnam Province, stated, "We will work closely with relevant agencies to conduct thorough safety inspections to prevent fishing boat accidents in the fall," and urged, "We ask fishing boat operators and anglers to follow safety regulations and always wear life jackets."
Meanwhile, Jeonnam Province is investing a total project budget of 5.2 billion won this year to support the 'Distribution of Inflatable Life Jackets Project,' which is being implemented as a one-time initiative.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
