The First National Marine Litter Management Plan (2009 – 2013)
The allocated budget for this plan was USD 240 million (Cho, 2018)
This plan aimed to prevent the flow of litter into the environment, increase public and international coordination and collaboration, improve collection and disposal facilities via the investment in treatment centers and floating debris containment books, and increase management efficiency.
Unfortunately, the First National Marine Litter Management Plan failed to reach government coordination, allocate sufficient funds to relevant agencies and marine litter projects, reduce the output of plastic, and utilizing regulatory policy instruments (i.e., EPR).
The Second National Marine Litter Management Plan (2014 – 2018)
The allocated budget for the second management plan was USD 330 million (Cho, 2018)
It aimed to expand marine debris removal projects and facilities, improve marine litter management centers, increase the management of marine litter sources, and establish education programs to increase awareness.
This plan failed to manage land-based sources, establish strict regulatory preventative policies, and publish data on marine litter collection and disposal.
The Third National Marine Litter Management Plan (2019 – 2023)
The allocated budget for the third management plan was USD 880 million
This plan is responsible to increases focus on land-based, ocean-based, and foreign-based sources, improve marine litter transportation services, expand disposal and recycling facilities, increase public awareness, and strengthen management.
Unlike the former two management plans, the issues of this plan have not been evaluated since it is still in action.
The Third River and Estuary Litter Management Plan (2021 – 2025)
Drafted and enacted by the Ministry of the Environment in December 2020, this plan created and enforced a legal basis for collecting and disposing of marine litter in the riverine and estuarine environments. It places partial responsibility for collecting marine litter from land-based and nearby-coastal sources. It promotes investment in integrated technological and management solutions. This plan presses for role-sharing mechanisms between the local government, relevant national agencies, and local communities and organizations. The plan creates clear definitions of management responsibilities and advances budget management mechanisms.
The First Framework on Marine Litter Management (2021 – 2030)
The framework aims to improve the collection and disposal of marine litter, expand facilities to prevent marine litter, invest in a life cycle approach towards marine debris, and increase coordination among relevant stakeholders.
It was created following the enactment of the 2020 Marine Litter and Contaminated Marine Sediment Act
In more detail, the action plan covers two main concerns: marine litter and marine pollution sediment. For marine litter matter, there are promotion strategies, 16 tasks, and 40 detailed projects that are highlighted in the action plan for the next 10 years (Table 1).
Table 1. Detailed Action Plan for Marine Litter Matter
Promotion Strategies | Tasks | Detailed Projects |
|---|---|---|
1.1 Prevention | Reinforcement of maritime source management | Introduction of fishing gear and buoy deposit system |
Reinforcement of fishing gear and Styrofoam buoy management | ||
Reinforcement of guidance for ship-based waste | ||
Reinforcement of onshore source management | Reinforcement of land-based waste management before going into oceans | |
Reduction of land-based waste going into the oceans | ||
Introduction of river basin waste management system | ||
Reinforcement of foreign source management | Establishment of joint monitoring and management with neighbouring countries | |
1.2 Improvement of collection and transportation system | Expansion of waste collection | Expansion of waste collection in the islands |
Reinforcement of collection in vulnerable seas | ||
Expansion of existing collection system (inside the fishing ground) | ||
Expansion of existing collection system (outside the fishing ground) | ||
Reinforcement of disaster waste management and response | ||
Establishment of national park waste collection cooperation system | ||
Promotion of public private partnership and local participation | Establishment of public participatory marine waste collection system | |
Reinforcement of local participation in the collection system | ||
Enforcement of efficient collection system | Enforcement of marine waste monitoring system | |
Development of marine collection technology | ||
1.3 Promotion of treatment and recycling | Expansion of infrastructure and management | Installation of collection facilities for marine waste |
Improvement of marine waste treatment | ||
Creation of foundation for recycling revitalization | Application of extended producer responsibility for recycling system | |
Revitalization of recycled products | ||
Development of recycling and recycling technology | ||
Creation of marine waste recycling economy town | ||
1.4 Reinforcement of management foundation | Governance and reinforcement of expertise | Establishment and operation of Marine Waste Management Committee |
Establishment of Marine Waste and marine Contaminant Sediment Management Center | ||
Operation of institution specializing in marine waste and marine pollution sediment | ||
Establishment of coastal waste collection system | ||
Establishment of smart management foundation | Development of beach waste monitoring app | |
Establishment of real-time artificial intelligence monitoring and response system | ||
Establishment of marine plastic management | Investigation of microplastic distribution status | |
Development of integrated management technology for microplastics in the marine ecosystem | ||
Establishment of marine emission management | Optimalization of marine waste management and disposal area | |
Establishment of marine geological storage basis and management of carbon dioxide | ||
Response to international issues and reinforcement of cooperation | Improvement international cooperation and multilateral meetings | |
Enhancement of cooperation in marine waste management with the Southern countries | ||
Fundraising | Improvement of marine environment charge | |
1.5 Public Awareness Raising | Enhancement of public participation | Improvement of private organization support |
Activation of public opinion surveys and suggestions | ||
Enhancement of personal training | Enhancement of customized education | |
Improvement of public relations and campaign activities |
Source: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, n. d.
Meanwhile, for the marine pollution sediment, there are 5 promotion strategies, 13 tasks, and 24 detailed projects (Table 2).
Table 2. Detailed Action Plan for Marine Pollution Sediment
Promotion Strategies | Tasks | Detailed Projects |
|---|---|---|
2.1 Prevention of occurrence | Establishment of pollution prevention basis | Reinforcement of pollutant inflow blocking system |
Reinforcement of coastal source management | Improvement of measures to reduce inflow of pollutants in ports | |
Improving measures to reduce the inflow of land-based pollutants in partnership with related organizations | ||
Identification of contamination source and pathway | Establishment of pollution source and pathway tracking system | |
Development of pollution source and pathway tracking technology | ||
Reinforcement of management | Improvement of evaluation system | Improvement of pollution level evaluation method and, purification, and restoration standards |
Improvement of investigation and management | Preparation of survey and distribution map as well as priority management | |
Designation and operation of institution specializing in marine waste and marine pollutant sediment investigation | ||
Reinforcement of environmental management throughout the cycle | Reinforcement of environmental management throughout purification and restoration project | |
Expansion of management | Expansion of sea target for purification and restoration | |
Improvement of measure for purification and restoration | ||
Technology development and market expansion | Development of purification technology | Development of treatment technologies, such as natural purification, on-site coating |
Development of technology for effective use of processed products | ||
Promotion of diversification of purification methods | ||
Development of purification method criteria | ||
Development of manpower and market expansion | Support for nurturing professional manpower | |
Establishment of a treatment plant for coastal use | ||
Operation of verification system technology for registered companies in the purification industry | ||
Support for the use of new purification technology | ||
Awareness raising | Operation of the council | Establishment of cooperative system for related groups |
Reinforcement of education and public relations | Reinforcement of coastal environment management education support | |
Governance improvement | Establishment of integrated management foundation | Management of marine pollutants by region (local government) |
Support for standardization | ||
Installation and operation of marine pollution sediment management center | ||
Funding | Improvement of marine environment charge |
Source: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 2021
Cho, D. (2005), “Challenges to Marine Debris Management in Korea.” Coastal Management 33 (4): 389–409. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920750500217559.
Cho, S. Y. (2018), National Marine Litter Management Program of RO Korea: Results on 10 Years of Practice. http://eascongress2018.pemsea.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S2.2-4.-National-Marine-Litter-Management-Program-in-RO-Korea_CSooYeon.pdf (accessed 7 September 2019).
Hong, S., Lee J., Jang Y. C., Kim Y.J., Kim H. J., Han D., Hong S.H., Kang D., and Shim W.J. (2013), “Impacts of Marine Debris on Wild Animals in the Coastal Area of Korea.” Marine Pollution Bulletin 66 (1–2): 117–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.10.022.
Jang, Y. C., Song, B. J. (2013), A Critical Analysis of the Rationality of South Korea’s Marine Debris Policy. International Journal Policy Study (83-105).
Lee, J., Hong, S., Jang, Y.C., Lee, M.J., Kang, D., and Shim, W.J. (2015), “Finding Solutions for the Styrofoam Buoy Debris Problem through Participatory Workshops.” Marine Policy 51 (January): 182–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2014.08.008.
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (2021), 제1차 해양폐기물 및 해양오염퇴적물 관리 기본계획 (The National Action Plan on Marine Litter and Contaminated Sediment). https://www.mof.go.kr/jfile/readDownloadFile.do?fileId=MOF_ARTICLE_36318&fileSeq=1 (accessed 19 September 2022).
Russi, D. (2016), “ANNEX to Marine Litter: Socio-Economic Study. Case 2: Marine Litter and Fisheries.” IEEP.
Suh, W. (2018), Progress in Addressing Marine Litter in Korea: Recent Policies and Efforts to Protect the Marine Environment from Marine Litter. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/26499/ML_Korea.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (accessed 19 September 2022).
The First National Marine Litter Management Plan (2009 – 2013)
The allocated budget for this plan was USD 240 million (Cho, 2018)
This plan aimed to prevent the flow of litter into the environment, increase public and international coordination and collaboration, improve collection and disposal facilities via the investment in treatment centers and floating debris containment books, and increase management efficiency.
Unfortunately, the First National Marine Litter Management Plan failed to reach government coordination, allocate sufficient funds to relevant agencies and marine litter projects, reduce the output of plastic, and utilizing regulatory policy instruments (i.e., EPR).
The Second National Marine Litter Management Plan (2014 – 2018)
The allocated budget for the second management plan was USD 330 million (Cho, 2018)
It aimed to expand marine debris removal projects and facilities, improve marine litter management centers, increase the management of marine litter sources, and establish education programs to increase awareness.
This plan failed to manage land-based sources, establish strict regulatory preventative policies, and publish data on marine litter collection and disposal.
The Third National Marine Litter Management Plan (2019 – 2023)
The allocated budget for the third management plan was USD 880 million
This plan is responsible to increases focus on land-based, ocean-based, and foreign-based sources, improve marine litter transportation services, expand disposal and recycling facilities, increase public awareness, and strengthen management.
Unlike the former two management plans, the issues of this plan have not been evaluated since it is still in action.
The Third River and Estuary Litter Management Plan (2021 – 2025)
Drafted and enacted by the Ministry of the Environment in December 2020, this plan created and enforced a legal basis for collecting and disposing of marine litter in the riverine and estuarine environments. It places partial responsibility for collecting marine litter from land-based and nearby-coastal sources. It promotes investment in integrated technological and management solutions. This plan presses for role-sharing mechanisms between the local government, relevant national agencies, and local communities and organizations. The plan creates clear definitions of management responsibilities and advances budget management mechanisms.
The First Framework on Marine Litter Management (2021 – 2030)
The framework aims to improve the collection and disposal of marine litter, expand facilities to prevent marine litter, invest in a life cycle approach towards marine debris, and increase coordination among relevant stakeholders.
It was created following the enactment of the 2020 Marine Litter and Contaminated Marine Sediment Act
In more detail, the action plan covers two main concerns: marine litter and marine pollution sediment. For marine litter matter, there are promotion strategies, 16 tasks, and 40 detailed projects that are highlighted in the action plan for the next 10 years (Table 1).
Table 1. Detailed Action Plan for Marine Litter Matter
Promotion Strategies | Tasks | Detailed Projects |
|---|---|---|
1.1 Prevention | Reinforcement of maritime source management | Introduction of fishing gear and buoy deposit system |
Reinforcement of fishing gear and Styrofoam buoy management | ||
Reinforcement of guidance for ship-based waste | ||
Reinforcement of onshore source management | Reinforcement of land-based waste management before going into oceans | |
Reduction of land-based waste going into the oceans | ||
Introduction of river basin waste management system | ||
Reinforcement of foreign source management | Establishment of joint monitoring and management with neighbouring countries | |
1.2 Improvement of collection and transportation system | Expansion of waste collection | Expansion of waste collection in the islands |
Reinforcement of collection in vulnerable seas | ||
Expansion of existing collection system (inside the fishing ground) | ||
Expansion of existing collection system (outside the fishing ground) | ||
Reinforcement of disaster waste management and response | ||
Establishment of national park waste collection cooperation system | ||
Promotion of public private partnership and local participation | Establishment of public participatory marine waste collection system | |
Reinforcement of local participation in the collection system | ||
Enforcement of efficient collection system | Enforcement of marine waste monitoring system | |
Development of marine collection technology | ||
1.3 Promotion of treatment and recycling | Expansion of infrastructure and management | Installation of collection facilities for marine waste |
Improvement of marine waste treatment | ||
Creation of foundation for recycling revitalization | Application of extended producer responsibility for recycling system | |
Revitalization of recycled products | ||
Development of recycling and recycling technology | ||
Creation of marine waste recycling economy town | ||
1.4 Reinforcement of management foundation | Governance and reinforcement of expertise | Establishment and operation of Marine Waste Management Committee |
Establishment of Marine Waste and marine Contaminant Sediment Management Center | ||
Operation of institution specializing in marine waste and marine pollution sediment | ||
Establishment of coastal waste collection system | ||
Establishment of smart management foundation | Development of beach waste monitoring app | |
Establishment of real-time artificial intelligence monitoring and response system | ||
Establishment of marine plastic management | Investigation of microplastic distribution status | |
Development of integrated management technology for microplastics in the marine ecosystem | ||
Establishment of marine emission management | Optimalization of marine waste management and disposal area | |
Establishment of marine geological storage basis and management of carbon dioxide | ||
Response to international issues and reinforcement of cooperation | Improvement international cooperation and multilateral meetings | |
Enhancement of cooperation in marine waste management with the Southern countries | ||
Fundraising | Improvement of marine environment charge | |
1.5 Public Awareness Raising | Enhancement of public participation | Improvement of private organization support |
Activation of public opinion surveys and suggestions | ||
Enhancement of personal training | Enhancement of customized education | |
Improvement of public relations and campaign activities |
Source: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, n. d.
Meanwhile, for the marine pollution sediment, there are 5 promotion strategies, 13 tasks, and 24 detailed projects (Table 2).
Table 2. Detailed Action Plan for Marine Pollution Sediment
Promotion Strategies | Tasks | Detailed Projects |
|---|---|---|
2.1 Prevention of occurrence | Establishment of pollution prevention basis | Reinforcement of pollutant inflow blocking system |
Reinforcement of coastal source management | Improvement of measures to reduce inflow of pollutants in ports | |
Improving measures to reduce the inflow of land-based pollutants in partnership with related organizations | ||
Identification of contamination source and pathway | Establishment of pollution source and pathway tracking system | |
Development of pollution source and pathway tracking technology | ||
Reinforcement of management | Improvement of evaluation system | Improvement of pollution level evaluation method and, purification, and restoration standards |
Improvement of investigation and management | Preparation of survey and distribution map as well as priority management | |
Designation and operation of institution specializing in marine waste and marine pollutant sediment investigation | ||
Reinforcement of environmental management throughout the cycle | Reinforcement of environmental management throughout purification and restoration project | |
Expansion of management | Expansion of sea target for purification and restoration | |
Improvement of measure for purification and restoration | ||
Technology development and market expansion | Development of purification technology | Development of treatment technologies, such as natural purification, on-site coating |
Development of technology for effective use of processed products | ||
Promotion of diversification of purification methods | ||
Development of purification method criteria | ||
Development of manpower and market expansion | Support for nurturing professional manpower | |
Establishment of a treatment plant for coastal use | ||
Operation of verification system technology for registered companies in the purification industry | ||
Support for the use of new purification technology | ||
Awareness raising | Operation of the council | Establishment of cooperative system for related groups |
Reinforcement of education and public relations | Reinforcement of coastal environment management education support | |
Governance improvement | Establishment of integrated management foundation | Management of marine pollutants by region (local government) |
Support for standardization | ||
Installation and operation of marine pollution sediment management center | ||
Funding | Improvement of marine environment charge |
Source: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 2021
Cho, D. (2005), “Challenges to Marine Debris Management in Korea.” Coastal Management 33 (4): 389–409. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920750500217559.
Cho, S. Y. (2018), National Marine Litter Management Program of RO Korea: Results on 10 Years of Practice. http://eascongress2018.pemsea.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S2.2-4.-National-Marine-Litter-Management-Program-in-RO-Korea_CSooYeon.pdf (accessed 7 September 2019).
Hong, S., Lee J., Jang Y. C., Kim Y.J., Kim H. J., Han D., Hong S.H., Kang D., and Shim W.J. (2013), “Impacts of Marine Debris on Wild Animals in the Coastal Area of Korea.” Marine Pollution Bulletin 66 (1–2): 117–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.10.022.
Jang, Y. C., Song, B. J. (2013), A Critical Analysis of the Rationality of South Korea’s Marine Debris Policy. International Journal Policy Study (83-105).
Lee, J., Hong, S., Jang, Y.C., Lee, M.J., Kang, D., and Shim, W.J. (2015), “Finding Solutions for the Styrofoam Buoy Debris Problem through Participatory Workshops.” Marine Policy 51 (January): 182–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2014.08.008.
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (2021), 제1차 해양폐기물 및 해양오염퇴적물 관리 기본계획 (The National Action Plan on Marine Litter and Contaminated Sediment). https://www.mof.go.kr/jfile/readDownloadFile.do?fileId=MOF_ARTICLE_36318&fileSeq=1 (accessed 19 September 2022).
Russi, D. (2016), “ANNEX to Marine Litter: Socio-Economic Study. Case 2: Marine Litter and Fisheries.” IEEP.
Suh, W. (2018), Progress in Addressing Marine Litter in Korea: Recent Policies and Efforts to Protect the Marine Environment from Marine Litter. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/26499/ML_Korea.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (accessed 19 September 2022).
