Breakthrough in distant-water fishing must start with investment in "people"

In the late 1950s, during the nascent stage of the South Korean economy, deep-sea fishing vessels that set sail for the Indian Ocean laid the foundation for the Miracle on the Han River. Over the past 70 years, deep-sea fishing has been the primary means of earning foreign currency and a key pillar of national food security, continuing to fulfill its role. But what is the current state of our deep-sea fishing industry? A more serious crisis than the aging of vessels is the fact that the 'people' who work on the high seas are disappearing. Currently, the deep-sea fishing industry faces a double crisis: the aging of experienced Korean sailors and an extreme reduction in the influx of new personnel. The reason young people are shunning deep-sea fishing jobs is clear. Compared to merchant ships, the relatively long boarding periods, harsh working conditions, and above all, the lack of a social safety net to support their lives are the main reasons. Especially when compared to the ...