Haenam-gun "We Will Never Give Up Fishing Rights in Manho Waters"

Total Response Efforts Including Review of Administrative Litigation Following Constitutional Court Jurisdiction Dispute Ruling

Maro Sea Area ⓒ Asia Economy

[Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Jeonnam Haenam-gun expressed regret over the appellate court ruling on the civil lawsuit regarding the fishing ground usage rights in the Manho area on the 27th of last month, but decided to concentrate all the county's efforts to fully respond in order to protect the fishermen's right to livelihood.

According to the county on the 1st, on the 27th of last month, the Civil Division 3 of the Gwangju High Court ruled in the dispute over the Manho area fishing ground usage rights (contract execution) between Haenam-gun Fisheries Cooperative (fishermen) and Jindo-gun Fisheries Cooperative, ordering "Haenam-gun Fisheries Cooperative (fishermen) to hand over the fishing grounds and dismantle the facilities."

Regarding this, a county official stated, "Although we deeply regret that the appellate court did not consider the initial agreement between the fishermen of both counties, the right to livelihood of our county's fishermen, the legal conflict concerns between the civil lawsuit and the authority dispute adjudication, and social equity, we will not give up and will devote all efforts to preparing for the Supreme Court appeal."

In particular, Haenam-gun has already filed an authority dispute adjudication with the Constitutional Court to permanently resolve the Manho area dispute by confirming the maritime boundary, which is currently underway.

The authority dispute adjudication was filed on the grounds that, according to the equidistant median line principle for maritime boundary delimitation, "the jurisdiction over the eastern sea area of the equidistant median line based on inhabited islands belongs to Haenam-gun."

The Manho area has been developed and the first seaweed farming started by Haenam-gun fishermen since 1982. Although the distance from the mainland is about 3.2 km for Haenam-gun and about 8 km for Jindo-gun, the dispute has continued as Jindo-gun claims jurisdiction over the area.

Along with support for the civil lawsuit and the Constitutional Court authority dispute adjudication, the county plans to actively consider administrative litigation regarding the implementation of the agreement on the Manho area fishing ground and substitute fishing ground licenses disposed to Jindo-gun.

County Governor Myung Hyun-kwan said, "Since this is an issue concerning the livelihood of our Haenam fishermen, the county has formed a dedicated team to provide full support not only for the civil lawsuit but also for all administrative assistance. The repeated disputes and conflicts have caused enormous administrative waste as well as inevitable mental and economic damages to both sides. To fundamentally resolve these issues, the county will actively support with strong determination."

Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun kh0424@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.