From Bank Clerk to Sea Captain: How Korea’s Fishing Schools and Support Centers Are Revitalizing Coastal Communities

"My wife and I have become a captain and a crew member. On the boat, my word is law, but on land, my wife's word is law."

Kim, 37, a father of twin boys, moved to Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, in 2022 with his wife to pursue a life in fishing and is now a captain.

He previously worked at a bank in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. He says he began to rethink his life's direction after an incident where he had to take his feverish son to work with him.

After long discussions with his wife, who is a nurse, the couple decided to leave the city and choose the sea to spend more time with their family.

Although they invested 200 million won to start their new life, the settlement process was not easy.

There were many days when their daily fishing income barely reached 80,000 won.

Kim did not rely solely on the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (Suhyup) auctions.

He ventured into live commerce using platforms like Smart Store, YouTube Live, and Grip, opening new sales channels by directly showcasing the freshness of his seafood to consumers.

Selected as an outstanding newcomer to the fishing industry, Kim said, "Anyone can become a fisher and a captain of the blue sea. My wife and I have become a captain and a crew member, and our children are growing up healthy in an environment close to nature."

Like Kim, the number of people choosing to move to fishing villages is increasing.

The advantages of this lifestyle include the potential to increase income through effort and management skills, the ability to determine one's own working hours and methods, and the opportunity to continue economic activities in nature without a mandatory retirement age.

In fact, the average income of fishing households is higher than that of farming households.

However, despite this trend, South Korea's fishing villages still face the massive challenge of population extinction.

This is the result of a combination of factors, including declining income due to the depletion of marine resources, a lack of jobs compared to cities, and poor living conditions.

In particular, the population decline rate in fishing villages is about four times higher than in rural farming areas, and it is projected that 87% of fishing villages nationwide will enter a high-risk zone for extinction by 2045.

The Fishing Village and Port Division of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is implementing various policies to inject new vitality into fishing villages and assist those who wish to move there.

Representative examples include the operation of the Fishing Village and Fishery Settlement Support Center and fishing schools.

The Support Center serves as a comprehensive gateway for prospective fishers, offering everything from consultations to regional information and educational connections.

Fishing schools, operated in 18 regions across the country, allow individuals to learn fishing techniques tailored to the local marine environment for free in the field.

They produce 300 to 400 graduates annually, and graduates are given preferential treatment in the selection process for fishing and aquaculture leasing businesses.

To address the low income issue, which is cited as the biggest difficulty in the early stages of moving to a fishing village, the Ministry has also introduced policies such as settlement subsidies for young fishers.

An official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said, "It is true that entering the fishing industry has higher barriers than farming because it requires production bases like fishing boats or aquaculture facilities, as well as an understanding of fishing techniques and licensing systems." The official added, "Rather than simply lowering the barriers, our policy focus is on helping those who are well-prepared to settle down stably and not give up easily."

In addition, the Fishing Village and Port Division is responsible not only for supporting those moving to fishing villages but also for connecting companies with fishing communities to create new sales channels.

Recently, the division directly connected scallops produced by young fishers in South Gyeongsang Province and freshwater eels from the Jangheung Freshwater Eel Producers Association in South Jeolla Province—which was experiencing oversupply—with GS Retail, allowing them to sell products without intermediate distribution networks.

This created a structure where producers secure stable sales outlets and consumers can purchase fresh seafood at reasonable prices.

The Ministry official said, "The eels were initially sold in their raw form through GS Fresh, but recently, the company's cafeteria introduced a menu using the eels, which received a great response," adding, "We are currently considering launching products for general consumers as well."

Revitalizing the local economy by utilizing the unique nature and culture of fishing villages is also a key task for the Fishing Village and Port Division.

Currently, there are 147 fishing village experience and recreation villages operating across the country, and 1.81 million people visited them last year alone.

Visitors can enjoy various programs that highlight local characteristics, such as fishing and tidal flat experiences, as well as female diver (haenyeo) experiences and trap fishing.

The Ministry official said, "The Korea Fishing Villages and Ports Management Corporation provides consulting on overall operations, including lodging, restaurants, and safety management," and added, "We hope more people will visit fishing villages and experience the charm of the sea for themselves."

(Photo courtesy of Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.