[Editor's Pick] 'Green Disaster' Sweeps Korea: 9 Billion Won in Taxpayer Money Wasted, Yet No Solution in Sight

The coastline has turned entirely green.

This massive bloom of sea lettuce is nothing new.

Over the past three years alone, more than 21,000 tons have been collected.

Various discussions have taken place to reduce these blooms, ranging from cutting pollutants from groundwater and fish farms to modifying port structures, but none have been reflected in actual policies.

[Interview: Son Young-baek / Principal Research Scientist, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) Jeju Research Center: "Since the cause (of the blooms) has been identified, we need to move toward eliminating that cause, but that requires various efforts..."]

The same applies to *Sargassum horneri*, which flows into the Jeju coast in massive quantities. The budget for collecting these seaweeds exceeds 9 billion won annually.

However, most of it is discarded after collection.

While research on extracting functional ingredients from seaweed has led to the release of some prototypes, they have not been properly utilized.

This is because there are no standardized production facilities to extract the raw materials, and the burden is too great for the private sector to bear alone.

This is why the Jeju Provincial Government is pushing for a project to invest 35 billion won in state and local funds to extract and supply bio-functional ingredients.

[Interview: Lee Byung-joo / Head of Marine Industry Team, Jeju Provincial Government: "The cost of creating raw materials is too high for companies. By providing raw materials derived from byproducts to marine bio-companies, we can create a virtuous cycle..."]

However, the central government's investment review committee recently rejected the project.

Attention is now focused on whether the seaweed issue, which has remained stuck in a cycle of collection-based responses, can be transformed into a path toward resource utilization and industrialization.

Over 20,000 Tons Collected in 3 Years... What is the Solution for Jeju's 'Sea Lettuce'? (June 17, 2026, 12 News)

Reported by Kim Dong-eun (JIBS) | Written by Lee Se-young | Video by Yoon In-soo (JIBS) | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.