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Korea's First State-Run Marine Animal Hospital to Open... Groundbreaking Ceremony for the National Marine Species Restoration Center

  • Date

    2025.10.29.

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    204

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Korea's First State-Run Marine Animal Hospital to Open...
Groundbreaking Ceremony for the National Marine Species Restoration Center
- Expected to be established as a core research facility that comprehensively performs reproduction and restoration, in addition to the rescue and treatment of marine organisms
- Scheduled to open in the first half of 2028; National Marine Biodiversity Institute to operate the facility


  The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Chun Jae-soo) announced on September 25 that it would be holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the National Marine Species Restoration Center for the conservation and management of marine biodiversity at Yeongri Beach in Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk Province.

  To date, the Ministry has designated and managed civilian aquariums as marine life specialist agencies for conserving marine species including rescue, treatment, and artificial propagation of marine life. However, species conservation research requires a long period and it is not profitable, so the need for statutory systematic national marine life protection and restoration has been continuously raised.

  Accordingly, MOF has implemented the construction of a species restoration center since 2021. The detailed design was completed in December 2024 and construction began in August 2025, with the goal of opening in the first half of 2028.

  The Marine Life Restoration Center to be built behind Yeongri Beach in Byeonggok-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk Province will be constructed with total project cost of KRW 48.9 billion (100% government funding). The facility will have two floors plus basement, for a total floor area of 9,586 square meters. Following completion of construction, it will be operated by the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, a specialized marine life research institute.

  The Marine Life Restoration Center will conduct comprehensive research on marine life rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, propagation, and restoration and will also perform various functions such as training of professionals, education, and public relations.

  It will be the first marine animal hospital to be operated directly by the government in Korea and will be equipped with cutting-edge medical and surgical equipment—such as MRI, CT, and respiratory anesthesia—to treat and rehabilitate marine animals in distress or injury. Moreover, it will breed and restore marine life by installing a 7m indoor sea turtle spawning ground, the longest in Korea.

  Additionally, it is expected to become a hub for the restoration of marine life species as it will train professionals on marine animal rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation and provide educational and practical training spaces in cooperation with domestic universities.

  "The government will make its best efforts to expand biodiversity in our waters. The Marine Life Restoration Center, which marks the beginning of this initiative, will serve as the core facility for marine life protection and management,” Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Chun Jae-soo said.
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