-2025 MOF’s Key Policy Implementation Plan- Maritime and Fisheries that Bring Warmth to People's Lives and Vitality to the Economy

 

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced the 2025 MOF Task Execution Plan, focusing on 16 tasks in 5 major fields with the vision of “maritime and fisheries that bring warmth to people's lives and vitality to the economy.”

 

 【2025 Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Key Policy Implementation Plan】

 

 ❶ Building the World’s Leading Maritime Logistics Supply Chain

 

 ■ Starting the construction of the world's largest port (Jinhae New Port at Busan Port)    ■ Opening the US Eastern Logistics Center (August)
 ■  Starting the construction of Gwangyang Port Smart Port Testbed (July)                     ■ Achieving the 10% proportion of eco-friendly ships

 

 We will build world-class port and logistics infrastructure. Busan Port’s Jinhae New Port Construction Project, which has the goal of becoming the world's largest port (based on berths) by 2045, will begin this year with the start of construction of outer facilities. Moreover, we will expand logistics support for Korean companies by opening a new public-private joint logistics center in New Jersey on the eastern side of the US in August of this year.

 

 We will build a stable logistics network to support exports. To respond proactively to the reorganization of the global logistics network, we will support Korean shipping companies in expanding strategic vessels and diversifying maritime transport routes. We will support the launch of the Premier +MSC shipping alliance system scheduled to be launched in February and diversify the maritime transport network to Central and South America, Atlantic Ocean, and India in preparation for nearshoring in the United States. Moreover, we will continue to provide logistics support for export and import companies and stable management support for domestic shipping companies to respond flexibly to uncertainties in the logistics and shipping markets.

 

 We will foster digital, eco-friendly, future-oriented logistics industries. First, the Smart Port Test Bed will begin in July to secure domestic smart port technology, and a preliminary feasibility study for fully autonomous ship technology development will also be conducted starting this year. In addition, we will strengthen policy financing support for Korean shipping companies to increase the proportion of eco-friendly ships among Korean flag oceangoing ships from the current 7.8% to 10% by 2025 and use the global carbon regulations as an opportunity for the logistics industry to grow further by announcing a roadmap for establishing a Korea-US green shipping route.

 

 ❷ Fostering the Fisheries Industry, Supporting the Livelihood of Citizens and Fishermen

 

■ Executing 80% of the budget for discount events in the first half of the year           ■  Starting the construction of the Busan Joint Fish Market Modernization Project
■ Managing 60% of the total catch with TAC                                                       ■  Implementing the aquaculture license examination and evaluation system (August)

 

 We will continue to manage seafood prices stably. Up to 80% of the total budget for discount events this year (KRW 100 billion) will be executed in the first half, and the burden of shopping cart prices will be relieved by operating direct transaction marketplaces in up to 56 municipalities that were previously excluded from discount events. Moreover, we will strengthen supply and demand monitoring of each item and expand the supply base by allowing offshore experimental farming (1,000 ha) and switching existing farms to gim (laver) farming.

 

 We will establish an advanced distribution and processing system that can benefit the public. The main construction of the Busan Joint Fish Market modernization project for Korea's largest fish market will begin during the first half, and 30 direct shops that directly connect the production and consumption areas for fresh fishery products will be established and operated. Moreover, a smart processing complex that integrates small-scale fishery product processing facilities and companies will be built in Gunsan, Jeonbuk-do with construction to begin in March, and in Yeongdeok, Gyeongsangbuk-do with the design to commence in 2025.

 

 We will foster sustainable fisheries despite climate change. For coastal fisheries, 60% of the total coastal fishery catch this year will be managed under the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) system to respond flexibly to climate change and resource depletion. The aquaculture industry will expand infrastructure such as smart aquaculture clusters and begin implementing an aquaculture license review and evaluation system in August. To respond to damage due to high temperatures, we will designate areas with frequent damage due to climate change as restoration areas and introduce a system that allows for the relocation of aquaculture farms. Moreover, we will introduce a public institution participation system for idle village fishing grounds to enable young people and companies in the private sector to use them and help new personnel—including youths—enter the fishing industry by continuing to rent fishing boats (25 vessels) and fish farms (20 units).

 

 We will expand the export of K-Seafood, which is sought after by people worldwide. We will establish a customized export strategy with the goal of surpassing the highest-ever fishery product export volume (USD 3.15 billion in 2022) in 2025 and diversify the export voucher support program and overseas trade support center for 100 fishery product exporting companies (Current Chinese speaking regions → Reorganization Middle East and South America).

 

 ❸ Creation of Vibrant Coastal and Livable Fishing Villages

 

■ Selecting 2 cities for complex marine leisure tourism (early 2025)               ■ Securing early leadership in the KRW 10 trillion Southeast Asian marine plant market
■Constructing a 90-unit housing complex for returning fishermen (by 2027)    ■ Supporting remote medical care in 200 islands that are medical blind spots

 

 We will increase the vitality of coastal areas by promoting marine leisure tourism. Two sites for the complex marine leisure tourism city project will be selected in the first half of the year for a total investment of KRW 1 trillion per site, with new tourism content such as cruises, marine ecological parks, lighthouses, and tidal flats to be promoted. To create a hub for economic growth in the original downtown areas, we will carry out Busan Port’s North Port redevelopment project and the Incheon Port Inner Port Pier 1 and 8 redevelopment project without a hitch.

 

 We will foster new marine industries to lead the growth of the coastal economy. There are about 1,700 offshore plants in Southeast Asia including Indonesia. The recycling and dismantling market is forecast to be valued at KRW 10 trillion within the next 10 years. Accordingly, we will develop technology to lead the new offshore plant market. Moreover, we will reduce the royalty payment overseas (approximately KRW 3.2 trillion) for new eco-friendly ship materials by expanding the scope of use of high-manganese steel developed by a Korean company.

 

 We will proactively respond to the extinction of fishing villages and islands by improving residential conditions. First, we will select 26 sites for the 2025 Fishing Village Revitalization Project to improve residential conditions. To promote private investment in fishing port hinterlands, we will establish special zones for fishing village development and allow profit-making facilities such as restaurants and shopping malls to move in. Moreover, we will begin building three youth sea villages (30 households per village) that link housing complexes and jobs for returning fishermen. We will also improve the living conditions including transportation and logistics in the island area. We will provide remote medical services to 200 islands in medical blind spots and establish measures to improve the convenience of coastal passengers by installing facilities to support the transportation-disadvantaged and improving the passenger ship fare support system. We will also launch a route-finding service using a mobile map application (beginning December 2024) and a reservation service (beginning Q2 2025).

 

 ❹ Creation of Safe and Clean Ocean Environments

 

 ■ Mandatory wearing of life jackets on small fishing boats (October)            ■ Mandatory insurance for all fishing crew
 ■A pilot project to block land-based waste from flowing into the sea           ■ Designating two large marine protected zones

 

 We will establish a thorough safety management system to prepare for maritime accidents. Starting this year, all fishing boat crew regardless of tonnage will be required to subscribe to disaster compensation insurance. Likewise, starting October, crew on small fishing boats with two or fewer seafarers will be required to wear life jackets. Moreover, we will introduce a storm warning system starting the second half and expand the targets and items of fishing boat safety inspections. In the first half, we will distribute electric vehicle fire response equipment to passenger ships and install terrestrial navigation system receivers on government ships to respond to GPS signal interference in the West Sea border region.

 

 We will strengthen our capabilities to respond to coastal disasters and catastrophes. In the first half of this year, we will announce a plan to implement the National Safe Coast Creation Project (20 locations) to review the impact of erosion and flooding in advance when developing coastal areas and for the government to create buffer zones directly in areas where flooding and other damages frequently occur.

 

 We will create clean oceans for present and future generations. We will work with the Ministry of Environment to execute a pilot project for blocking the inflow of land-based waste into the sea and implement measures such as immediate removal of illegal fishing gear and reporting of lost fishing gear to strengthen the management of discarded fishing gear. We will also strengthen marine environment management for future generations by newly designating two large marine protected zones spanning over 1,000 km2 this year.

 

 We will establish an orderly management system for marine space. We will establish a legal and institutional basis to support the introduction of offshore wind power planning sites, demarcation of maritime jurisdiction zones between municipalities, and restoration of public waters that are being used illegally.

 

 ❺ Securing Global Maritime Leadership

 

■ Holding the 10th OCC (April 28-30)                                 ■ Holding the APEC Maritime Ministerial Meeting (April 30-May 1)
■ Hosting the UN Ocean Conference in Korea (December)      ■ Establishing the 5th Dokdo Master Plan

 

 We will raise international credibility in the marine and fisheries sector. We will secure global maritime leadership and enhance Korea’s international credibility by successfully hosting the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) and APEC Maritime Ministerial Meeting in April and May. We will also strengthen our partnership in international fisheries management with major allies such as the United States and Japan.

 

 We will strengthen the management of maritime territories including Dokdo. We will prepare the 5th Master Plan for Sustainable Use of Dokdo—which provides the basic directions for the use and conservation of Dokdo over the next five years (2026-2030)—the Wangdolchio Science Base in the East Sea, and a special management plan for uninhabited islands at the territorial waters starting point.

 

 “This year, the oceans and fisheries sector will face issues such as reorganization of the logistics supply chain due to strengthened protectionism and instability of supply and demand of marine products due to climate change. MOF will do its best to focus its policy capabilities on carrying out policy tasks seamlessly and address pending issues proactively so that the maritime and fisheries industries can bring warmth to people’s lives and vitality to the economy,” Minister Kang Do-hyung said.