Safe Swimming at the Beach on Hot Summer Days with Real-time Rip Current Safety Information

- Ensuring safety in water leisure by preparing for earlier opening and longer operating period than usual

 The Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA; Director General Jung Kyu-sam) of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced that it would be operating a rip current safety information service for major beaches nationwide, ensuring that people visiting beaches during the summer season can enjoy water leisure safely.

 A rip current is a phenomenon wherein seawater that has been pushed onto land by waves breaking near the shore flows back out to sea. Due to its narrow and swift current, it can instantly pull beachgoers into the deep sea, potentially causing fatalities. To prevent this, KHOA operates a real-time rip current safety information service every year.

 The rip current safety information is provided during the opening period (June to September) at 10 beaches nationwide*. In particular, as this summer is forecast to be hotter than usual, more tourists are expected to visit beaches; thus making rip current safety information even more important.

 * (Busan) Haeundae, Songjeong, and Imrang beaches; (Gangwon-do) Gyeongpo, Naksan, Sokcho, and Mansang beaches; (Chungcheongnam-do) Daecheon beach; (Jeju) Jungmun beach; (Gyeongsangbuk-do) Goraebul beach

 Safety information is provided in real time to the relevant organizations—including the National Fire Agency (NFA), the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), and local government officials responsible for beaches—through a dedicated platform. The general public can access this information through the “Anjeon-hae” (SafeSea) mobile app and KHOA website (www.khoa.go.kr).

  “I hope that the real-time rip current safety information will help prevent accidents at beaches during the summer season. We will continue to cooperate with the relevant organizations to provide the necessary information so that the public can enjoy playing in the water with peace of mind,” said Jung Kyu-sam, Director General of KHOA.