RO Korea
Capital:
Seoul
Land Area:
96,920km²
Inland Water Area:
2,800km²
Length of Coastline:
2,413km
The Government of the Republic of Korea promulgated the Framework Law on Ocean and Fisheries Development and its ocean strategy, the Ocean Korea 21 (OK 21), in 2002. These two documents are the backbone of ocean policy of the country. Currently, the government is implementing a 10-year operational plan for the OK 21, which covers most of the commitments on oceans and coasts under the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). Through the implementation of the OK 21, the government is trying to increase the contribution of the ocean sector to the national GDP from 7% (approximately US$33 billion) in 2005 to 10% by 2016.
The integration of land and ocean management programs in 2008 created the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, and enabled improved implementation of integrated land and ocean policies. One significant consequence of the integration has been demonstrated by the revision of the Coastal Zone Management Act in 2009, which now includes a coastal zoning scheme. Since the enactment of the Coastal Zone Management Act (1999), almost all coastal-located local governments have completed the development of their coastal management plans covering approximately 11,025km of coastline, which accounts for about 91.5% of total coastline of RO Korea. Local governments are currently implementing their coastal management plans.
As ocean health and the marine ecosystem continue to deteriorate, discussions on how to improve the marine spatial planning system of the Republic of Korea are being held in an effort to safeguard sustainability and ensure blue growth. A Master Plan for Marine Space, to be established in 2019, will serve as the government’s highest-level plan for marine space management, providing a framework for building an integrated marine space management system. A marine spatial management plan will be initiated in 2018 starting from the southern coasts of RO Korea and completed in 2021 covering all the coasts. Government priorities and resources, intensity of conflicts in marine spaces, and sustainable use of marine spaces will all be considered in the establishment of the marine spatial management plan, to be implemented on a yearly basis. The main components of the Marine Spatial Planning System will include the following: Coastal Zoning System, Marine Spatial Assessment, Marine Space Suitability Consultation, Research and Technology Development, Oceans and Fisheries Platform, and Participatory and Cooperative Governance.
Focal Points:
Ms. Eun Jeong SEO (National Focal Point)
Director
Marine Climate and Environment Strategy Team
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF)
Ms. Ye Ji KANG (Operational Focal Point)
Deputy Director
Marine Climate and Environment Strategy Team
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF)
Ms. Joo-won Lee
Assistant Manager, International Affairs Dept.
Ms. Sunyoung CHAE
Assistant Manager
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
PEMSEA Annual Report 2024: A Year of Collaboration: Driving Blue Synergies Towards Resilient Coasts and Ocean in the East Asian Seas Region
2024 was a landmark year for PEMSEA with the successful organization of the EAS Congress 2024 and the 8th Ministerial Forum as key highlights. These milestone events led to stronger and renewed commitments to drive synergistic actions towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient coasts, ocean and communities, aligned with national priorities and global and regional targets.
Check out progress and plans of PEMSEA's projects that address complex interconnected environmental challenges in the region: marine plastic pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change through rigorous baseline data collation, analysis and reporting; enhancing governance and investment plans and programs; knowledge management and technical skills and capacity development.
PEMSEA eBulletin - April 2025
Dear PEMSEA community,
April is packed with exciting progress and developments across the region!
PEMSEA is making waves at the 10th Our Ocean Conference in Busan by organizing a side event that brought together regional partners committed to support governments in meeting their 30x30 conservation targets while enhancing protection of our valuable marine ecosystems.
Looking toward the future, PEMSEA's Executive Committee (EC) Meeting in Busan endorsed plans to extend our Sustainable Development Strategy implementation to 2030. The EC also noted progress on our regional Blue Carbon Program and finalized the timeline for upcoming Partnership Council elections.
We're also proud to announce the release of "Threads of Resilience," the sixth edition of our Integrated River Basin Management Project newsletter. This issue tells inspiring narratives of women from the Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands alongside the impactful work of female environmental leaders driving change across Southeast Asia and critical conservation needs for key project sites, including Indonesia's Ciliwung River.
Other important developments include the PNLG Executive Committee's announcement of upcoming elections and General Assembly in Jakarta, the successful launch of the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management Project in Viet Nam, and regional training initiatives to enhance blue carbon knowledge and integrated coastal management strategies in Xiamen, China.
Integrated River Basin Management Project Newsletter - Edition 6
"Threads of Resilience” marks the sixth edition of the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project's newsletter, spotlighting inspiring narratives of women and advancements in project implementation.
This issue features threads of resilience in the stories of women from the Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands of the Pasac-Guagua Watershed in the Philippines, alongside the impactful work of women leaders driving environmental change across Southeast Asia. It also highlights the need to conserve key project sites, including the Ciliwung River in Indonesia.
Key project activities and milestones from the first quarter of 2025 include the ongoing formulation of a framework and solutions template for pilot project development in the seven priority river basins, Lao PDR's approval of the 2025 Work Plan and State of the River Basin Report for the Nam Tha River Basin, and stakeholder validation workshops for the State of River Basin Reports for the Imus-Ylang Ylang and Rio Grande Rivers, as well as the Pasac-Guagua Watershed.
These interconnected efforts are key components of a strengthening web of partnerships and collaboration within the ASEAN region.