[2023 Budget] Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' 64 Trillion Won Budget for Next Year... Strengthening Response to Fukushima Contaminated Water

Cho Seung-hwan, nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, is attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 4th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' budget for next year has been set at 6.4 trillion KRW. This is a reduction of 3.5 billion KRW compared to this year's main budget. However, the budget has been expanded for coastal and fishing village revitalization, including newly allocated funds to eliminate unserved islands by passenger ships.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 30th that the government budget proposal for next year is 6.3814 trillion KRW, a decrease of 3.5 billion KRW (0.05%) from this year's main budget (6.3849 trillion KRW).

The budget for the fisheries and fishing village sector is 2.9295 trillion KRW, and for the marine and environmental sector, it is 1.3584 trillion KRW, representing increases of 3.4% and 3.8% respectively compared to the previous year. The research and development (R&D) budget is set at 878.3 billion KRW, a 6.6% increase.

In particular, despite budget reductions due to the completion of the Fishing Village New Deal 300 project, the fisheries and fishing village sector increased investment by 3.4% compared to the previous year by expanding budgets for responding to the Fukushima contaminated water discharge and revitalizing coastal and fishing villages.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries focused next year's budget on ▲ sustainable fisheries and the realization of fishing villages where people return ▲ response to Fukushima contaminated water and expansion of marine and fisheries safety nets ▲ establishment of a leading marine logistics system and fostering of new marine industries ▲ creation of sustainable seas and strengthening of marine territory management.

A budget of 44.4 billion KRW was newly allocated for the ‘Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project,’ which improves income and living convenience through customized support for 300 fishing villages by type, and 51.2 billion KRW for the basic fisheries public service direct payment system to stabilize income for small-scale fishing households and crew members. Additionally, 450 million KRW was newly invested in a project to eliminate unserved islands (40 locations) by passenger ships to guarantee basic transportation rights for island residents.

To respond to the possibility of Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water discharge, a total of 364.5 billion KRW was allocated, including 11 billion KRW for radiation monitoring and inspection and 333.1 billion KRW for stabilizing seafood supply and demand.

For the Gwangyang Port automation testbed, 69 billion KRW will be invested, and 129.3 billion KRW for the promotion of the Busan Port Jinhae New Port mega port. Additionally, 36.8 billion KRW will be allocated for the Korean-style ultra-precision satellite navigation system, and 1 billion KRW newly invested in the master plan for creating a complex marine leisure tourism city combining leisure, tourism, and culture.

231 billion KRW will be used for tidal flat restoration, and 35 billion KRW will be spent on collecting and disposing of marine debris submerged in the sea and abandoned fishing gear in fishing grounds. A new 1 billion KRW budget was allocated for waste disposal on uninhabited islands, and 1.2 billion KRW was newly allocated for a nationwide survey on illegal use of public waters.

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho Seung-hwan emphasized, "Through the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project and the introduction of the basic fisheries public service direct payment system, we have significantly expanded investments to revitalize coastal and fishing village areas and to prepare a safe seafood consumption environment free from radiation concerns in response to the possibility of Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water discharge."

He added, "We plan to create new growth engines for future generations through digitalization and fostering of new industries in the marine and fisheries sector, and to ensure that citizens can enjoy a pleasant and vibrant daily life by the sea and coast."

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