The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries presented at the economic ministers’ meeting today a four-strategy, ten-action plan aimed at supporting the development of South Korea’s marina industry and expanding marine leisure tourism. The plan covers governance, infrastructure, investment conditions, industry capacity and marina culture.
The ministry said it has prepared a “user-tailored marina revitalisation plan” to support growth in the sector, responding to rising international demand for outdoor leisure activities in natural settings and the steady expansion of marina tourism in overseas markets.
The authority added that South Korea still has room to develop its marina industry and widen participation in marine leisure activities, in both industry development and cultural adoption.
For the first listed strategy, authorities plan to overhaul how marina facilities and vessels are managed. The plan calls for a unified governance framework, built on a nationwide assessment of marina infrastructure and the application of consistent safety standards across the board.
Alongside this, officials will phase in a vessel lifecycle tracking system, issuing unique identification numbers to marina vessels and registering their data centrally, covering everything from ownership changes to maintenance and accident history. The goal is to prevent illegal abandonment and scrapping of vessels, and in the long term, lay the foundations for a proper brokerage market for marina vessels.
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The second initiative centres on expanding marina infrastructure and improving conditions for private investors. Six hub marina ports already in development will be pushed toward swift completion to keep pace with rising demand.
Marina business centres will support vessel manufacturing, maintenance and brokerage services. They will also contribute to specialist personnel training and start-up support as part of wider industry development. Regulatory changes will follow to simplify preliminary procedures and reduce timelines for private development projects outside designated marina port zones to encourage greater investment.
With the third point, the plan focuses on expanding overseas markets for domestic marina vessels and equipment through Korean pavilions at major international yacht exhibitions and higher participation by local companies.
Domestic boat shows will also be developed further as international business platforms through expanded overseas networks. At the same time, research and development will be increased in eco-friendly and artificial intelligence-based marina vessels, alongside technology transfer efforts.
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The final initiative aims at cultivating a marina-friendly culture and bringing marina tourism into the mainstream. Marina tourism products will be reimagined as longer stay-and-experience packages, with new offerings tied to local festivals and regional branding. The ministry plans to consult with local governments and experts along the way and promote pilot projects through partnerships between regional authorities and industry stakeholders.
In addition, the government will also launch a “must-visit marinas” campaign to highlight destinations. Further plans include tourism content connecting islands and fishing villages, plus an expanded lineup of programmes blending local culture with marine leisure.
At the meeting, minister of oceans and fisheries Hwang Jong-woo said the government would continue to update policies and systems in the marina sector. He added that “the sea should be viewed not only as a space for economic activity, but also as a place for relaxation and healing.”
Images from Marina Information System (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea).
