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:
Mr. Shin Jae-young (National Focal Point)
Director
Marine Climate and Environment Strategy Team
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF)
Ms. Hwang Ji-won (Operational Focal Point)
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
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PEMSEA eBulletin - November 2024
Dear PEMSEA community,
That’s a wrap for East Asian Seas Congress (EASC) 2024!
As we close the successful EASC 2024 held in Xiamen, China, we look back at inspiring discussions, collaborations, and groundbreaking initiatives that helped achieve our collective commitment to a sustainable and resilient future!
This month, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who made EASC 2024 a success. Check out the key takeaways from the Xiamen Ministerial Declaration, discover how the EASC Exhibition celebrated 30 years of regional cooperation, and revisit the many highlights of this landmark event.
A Heartfelt Thank You!
To all delegates, convenors, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and ocean leaders, we extend our deepest gratitude for your exceptional contributions to the success of the EASC 2024!
This year’s Congress brought together 855 participants from 20 countries, a potent pool of ideas and experiences. From 171 speakers leading 35 sessions, the creativity and enthusiasm of our 50 exhibitors, and the support of our nine sponsors, every milestone of the Congress was filled with collaboration, learning and the essence of partnerships.
We explored important themes through our plenary sessions, including:
- Ocean Innovations and Financing
- Ocean Science, Policy, and Practice
- Global Challenges, Local Solutions
Parallel sessions took a closer look into selected topics like climate action, biodiversity and sustainable development, while our exhibits showcased cutting-edge solutions and technologies for ocean sustainability.
With representation from 20 countries, 88 IGOs and NGOs, 42 local host institutions, 47 academic institutions, 22 local governments, 6 donor agencies and foundations, 15 business organizations, and over 200 youth participating as speakers, delegates, and dedicated volunteers, the Congress truly reflected a “whole of society” approach.
Your contributions and engagement made this Congress a celebration of “Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean.” Together, we tackled the big questions, shared ideas and built lasting partnerships to protect our coastal communities and our shared ocean.
See you at the 9th EAS Congress in 2027!
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The Guidebook on the State of the River Basin (SORB) Reporting System
The Guidebook on the State of the River Basin (SORB) Reporting System is intended for local governments and/or river basinorganizations in the East Asian Seas region currently or planning to implement integrated river basin management (IRBM)/integratedwater resources management (IWRM) programs. It provides guidance in establishing a regular monitoring, evaluation (M&E) and reporting mechanism, and discusses the requirements, the basis and importance of implementing and sustaining the SORB reporting system.
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PEMSEA eBulletin - October 2024
Dear PEMSEA community,
Are you excited for the upcoming East Asian Seas Congress?
We have just a week to go before EASC 2024 kicks off in Xiamen, so the final countdown has officially begun! With over 600 participants from 20 countries, 50 exhibitors and 35 session convenors, our October E-Bulletin gives you a glimpse of what awaits participants at the EAS Congress 2024!
Happening from 6 to 8 November 2024 at the Xiamen International Convention Center, EASC 2024 promises powerful plenary sessions and no less than 26 parallel sessions covering critical ocean topics.
This joint effort by PEMSEA, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, and the Xiamen Municipal People’s Government will bring together global stakeholders under the theme, “Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean.”