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Preparation of Innovation Plan for Maritime Safety Culture for a Safe, Happy Sea for All Citizens
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2026.06.02.
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Preparation of Innovation Plan for Maritime Safety Culture for a Safe, Happy Sea for All Citizens
The government announced on Friday, May 29 the Innovation Plan for Maritime Safety Culture at the Emergency Economic Office meeting and the Ministerial Meeting on Strengthening Economic and Industrial Competitiveness to raise public awareness of maritime safety and establish a maritime safety culture in daily life.
The Plan was jointly prepared by the relevant ministries led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and composed of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Interior and Safety, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Korea Coast Guard. It focuses on establishing a foundation for a sustainable maritime safety culture wherein the public and industrial sites participate together.
Given the recent revitalization of marine leisure and tourism and the increase in coastal passenger travel, the number of people visiting the sea is steadily increasing, with the number of casualties from marine accidents reaching 137 as of 2025.
In particular, since approximately 82% of major maritime accidents over the past 5 years were found to have been caused by human error such as noncompliance with safety rules and negligence of duty, the government deems it urgent to veer away from regulation-centered enforcement and establish a culture wherein citizens voluntarily practice safety.
Through these measures, the government plans to implement innovation fully in maritime safety culture focusing on three major strategies—▲ customized support and training, ▲ establishment of systems and infrastructure, and ▲ strengthening of publicity and practical activities—and six implementation tasks.
□ The government will expand field-oriented support and training to strengthen the foundation for safety practices in the maritime and fisheries industries and to foster a safety culture of public participation.
o First, in line with the enforcement of mandatory life jacket wearing on fishing vessels starting July 1, the government will support the replacement of parts for inflatable life jackets and provide self-maintenance training. It will also expand rewards for shipping companies with excellent safety management (2026) and conduct safety culture diagnostic consulting (2027).
o Additionally, Korean-language safety education for foreign fishers will be expanded (2027), with a qualification system for operating small fishing vessels under 5 tons to be introduced gradually (by 2030).
o A new Maritime Safety Mileage System will also be introduced (2027) to expand public participation. Citizens will be able to earn miles by participating in marine safety education and campaigns, reporting safety risks, and more. The government plans to make this mileage redeemable for various benefits, such as purchasing seafood products and experiencing cruise tours.
o Furthermore, the government will pursue inter-ministerial consultations for newly incorporating the marine safety sector into the lifecycle safety training framework. It also plans to expand its offering of customized educational content (2026) for children, people with disabilities, and older people.
□ The government will strengthen the safety accountability of business operators and lay the foundation for the public to experience maritime safety naturally in their daily lives.
o To achieve this, the government will implement a Safety Investment Disclosure System (June 2026) that requires shipping companies to disclose their safety investment details. It will also introduce a shipping company safety rating system (2027) and a customized intensive management system (2028) to foster a voluntary safety management culture.
o In addition, the government plans to introduce a Blue Whistle (tentative name) system (2027) that allows workers to report fatigue or hazardous situations. It will pursue institutional improvements as well to eradicate safety-compromising behaviors, such as banning the use of smart devices during navigation watchkeeping (2026) and imposing penalty fines for violations of maritime traffic order (2028).
o The government will also offer a Marine Safety Special Exhibition (2026), a Lighthouse Stamp Tour (2027), as well as mobile marine safety experience education for neglected areas (islands and fishing villages) (2027) to expand hands-on public experiences.
o Furthermore, in collaboration with the National Safety Experience Center, Student Safety Experience Center, and 119 Safety Experience Center, the government will distribute marine safety learning kiosks nationwide (2026) and promote the development of joint experience content (2026) through an inter-ministerial consultative body.
□ We will significantly strengthen campaigns and promotional content to spread a culture of maritime safety practices among the public.
o The government will expand joint campaigns (2026) linked to Marine Safety Day, beach opening season, and local festivals while promoting collaboration among the relevant agencies.
o It also plans to produce various AI-generated digital content such as short-form videos, webtoons, and emoticons (2026), and to introduce new promotional tools such as marine safety radio broadcasts via the "Bada Navi" app (2026).
o Meanwhile, the government will introduce an AI chatbot function on the Marine Safety Education Portal (2026) and connect the Ministry of Interior and Safety's Safety Reporting Portal with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' portal (2027) to strengthen on-site risk reporting and information sharing.
o Through this innovation plan, the government aims to achieve the national policy goal of reducing human casualties due to marine accidents by 50% (compared to 2024) while spreading marine safety as an everyday culture. It will make every effort to raise marine safety awareness across society and establish a marine safety culture that the public can genuinely feel.
- Announcement of Innovation Plan for Maritime Safety Culture at the Emergency Economic Office Meeting and Ministerial Meeting on Strengthening Economic and Industrial Competitiveness on May 29
- Targeting the reduction of human casualties from maritime accidents by 40% (compared to 2025), 500,000 people who have experienced maritime safety activities, and 80 points in the Maritime Safety Culture Index by 2030
*50% reduction compared to 2024 (164 people → 82 people) in accordance with national policy goals
- Introducing a maritime safety mileage system, strengthening operator responsibility, and expanding everyday experiences to make safety practices a part of daily life
- Establishing a maritime safety culture system encompassing education, systems, and public relations through collaboration with the relevant ministries
- Targeting the reduction of human casualties from maritime accidents by 40% (compared to 2025), 500,000 people who have experienced maritime safety activities, and 80 points in the Maritime Safety Culture Index by 2030
*50% reduction compared to 2024 (164 people → 82 people) in accordance with national policy goals
- Introducing a maritime safety mileage system, strengthening operator responsibility, and expanding everyday experiences to make safety practices a part of daily life
- Establishing a maritime safety culture system encompassing education, systems, and public relations through collaboration with the relevant ministries
The government announced on Friday, May 29 the Innovation Plan for Maritime Safety Culture at the Emergency Economic Office meeting and the Ministerial Meeting on Strengthening Economic and Industrial Competitiveness to raise public awareness of maritime safety and establish a maritime safety culture in daily life.
The Plan was jointly prepared by the relevant ministries led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and composed of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Interior and Safety, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Korea Coast Guard. It focuses on establishing a foundation for a sustainable maritime safety culture wherein the public and industrial sites participate together.
Given the recent revitalization of marine leisure and tourism and the increase in coastal passenger travel, the number of people visiting the sea is steadily increasing, with the number of casualties from marine accidents reaching 137 as of 2025.
In particular, since approximately 82% of major maritime accidents over the past 5 years were found to have been caused by human error such as noncompliance with safety rules and negligence of duty, the government deems it urgent to veer away from regulation-centered enforcement and establish a culture wherein citizens voluntarily practice safety.
Through these measures, the government plans to implement innovation fully in maritime safety culture focusing on three major strategies—▲ customized support and training, ▲ establishment of systems and infrastructure, and ▲ strengthening of publicity and practical activities—and six implementation tasks.
| Strategy 1. Strengthening Customized Support and Training for Business Sites as well as the Public |
□ The government will expand field-oriented support and training to strengthen the foundation for safety practices in the maritime and fisheries industries and to foster a safety culture of public participation.
o First, in line with the enforcement of mandatory life jacket wearing on fishing vessels starting July 1, the government will support the replacement of parts for inflatable life jackets and provide self-maintenance training. It will also expand rewards for shipping companies with excellent safety management (2026) and conduct safety culture diagnostic consulting (2027).
o Additionally, Korean-language safety education for foreign fishers will be expanded (2027), with a qualification system for operating small fishing vessels under 5 tons to be introduced gradually (by 2030).
o A new Maritime Safety Mileage System will also be introduced (2027) to expand public participation. Citizens will be able to earn miles by participating in marine safety education and campaigns, reporting safety risks, and more. The government plans to make this mileage redeemable for various benefits, such as purchasing seafood products and experiencing cruise tours.
o Furthermore, the government will pursue inter-ministerial consultations for newly incorporating the marine safety sector into the lifecycle safety training framework. It also plans to expand its offering of customized educational content (2026) for children, people with disabilities, and older people.
| Strategy 2. Systematizing the System and Infrastructure to Establish a Maritime Safety Culture |
□ The government will strengthen the safety accountability of business operators and lay the foundation for the public to experience maritime safety naturally in their daily lives.
o To achieve this, the government will implement a Safety Investment Disclosure System (June 2026) that requires shipping companies to disclose their safety investment details. It will also introduce a shipping company safety rating system (2027) and a customized intensive management system (2028) to foster a voluntary safety management culture.
o In addition, the government plans to introduce a Blue Whistle (tentative name) system (2027) that allows workers to report fatigue or hazardous situations. It will pursue institutional improvements as well to eradicate safety-compromising behaviors, such as banning the use of smart devices during navigation watchkeeping (2026) and imposing penalty fines for violations of maritime traffic order (2028).
o The government will also offer a Marine Safety Special Exhibition (2026), a Lighthouse Stamp Tour (2027), as well as mobile marine safety experience education for neglected areas (islands and fishing villages) (2027) to expand hands-on public experiences.
o Furthermore, in collaboration with the National Safety Experience Center, Student Safety Experience Center, and 119 Safety Experience Center, the government will distribute marine safety learning kiosks nationwide (2026) and promote the development of joint experience content (2026) through an inter-ministerial consultative body.
| Strategy 3. Diversifying Promotional and Practical Activities to Internalize Maritime Safety Awareness |
□ We will significantly strengthen campaigns and promotional content to spread a culture of maritime safety practices among the public.
o The government will expand joint campaigns (2026) linked to Marine Safety Day, beach opening season, and local festivals while promoting collaboration among the relevant agencies.
o It also plans to produce various AI-generated digital content such as short-form videos, webtoons, and emoticons (2026), and to introduce new promotional tools such as marine safety radio broadcasts via the "Bada Navi" app (2026).
o Meanwhile, the government will introduce an AI chatbot function on the Marine Safety Education Portal (2026) and connect the Ministry of Interior and Safety's Safety Reporting Portal with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' portal (2027) to strengthen on-site risk reporting and information sharing.
o Through this innovation plan, the government aims to achieve the national policy goal of reducing human casualties due to marine accidents by 50% (compared to 2024) while spreading marine safety as an everyday culture. It will make every effort to raise marine safety awareness across society and establish a marine safety culture that the public can genuinely feel.
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