Mandatory Life Jacket Use Aims to Protect Fishermen's Lives

[Anchor]

Starting this July, everyone aboard a fishing vessel is required to wear a life jacket. Failure to comply will result in a fine of up to 3 million won. The Korea Coast Guard plans to conduct enforcement operations while simultaneously working to improve safety awareness among fishermen.

G1 Broadcasting reporter Mo Jae-sung has the story.

[Reporter]

A Coast Guard coastal rescue boat approaches a fishing vessel currently at sea, its siren blaring.

The purpose is to verify whether the crew is wearing life jackets.

[Are you wearing your life jackets? (Yes, yes.) Could you show them to us for a moment? Thank you, confirmed.]

As of this month, it has become mandatory for all individuals on board a fishing vessel to wear a life jacket.

Previously, life jackets were only required when weather warnings were in effect or when there were two or fewer crew members on board. Now, however, all crew members must wear them at all times.

In the past, fishermen were reluctant to wear them due to the inconvenience during work, but recently, equipment that is smaller and allows for better mobility has been introduced in the field.

[Kim Mal-yong/Fisherman: This is a belt-type, but it hurt my waist when I wore it there, so I wear it over my shoulder. Still, I wear it for the sake of safety.]

Failure to wear a life jacket will result in a fine of 900,000 won for the first offense.

The fine increases to 1.5 million won for a second offense, and 3 million won for a third.

Fortunately, fishermen say that safety awareness has changed significantly compared to the past.

[Fisherman: (Wearing a life jacket) is a matter of course. It is natural to do so for my own safety. I believe almost everyone wears them now.]

Over the past five years, 57 out of 60 fishermen who died or went missing after falling into the sea were not wearing life jackets.

[Choi Seung-young/Public Relations Officer, Sokcho Coast Guard: Just as seat belts are essential on the road, life jackets are essential at sea. In the event of an accident, such as falling overboard, wearing a life jacket is the only means to save a life.]

The Coast Guard plans to continue its promotional efforts and on-site enforcement to ensure that the culture of wearing life jackets becomes firmly established.

(Video by Won Jong-chan and Shin Ik-kyun, G1)

G1 Mo Jae-sung
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.