The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), recently signed at the 4th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit, has sparked concerns regarding the future of fisheries trade, particularly with Japan. This agreement, which aims to streamline trade among its member countries, including Korea, China, ASEAN, and Japan, has led the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to strategize its approach to protect domestic seafood industries. The ministry's efforts include minimizing market opening in existing FTAs and negotiating for expanded export opportunities while limiting the impact on sensitive domestic products. The response from the Federation of Korean Fisheries Business Owners underscores the need for vigilance against illegal imports and the protection of local fisheries, highlighting the complex balance between economic growth and the preservation of domestic industries in the face of increasing international trade.