[Hankook Fishermen's News Reporter Young-jin Choi] The Fisheries Cooperatives Foundation is set to expand next year's budget for fishery-related welfare programs by approximately double the previous amount to 6.9 billion won. The Fisheries Cooperatives Foundation announced this decision at the 'Fisheries Cooperatives Foundation Welfare Program 20 Billion Won Achievement Ceremony' held at the headquarters of the Central Fisheries Cooperatives Federation on the 16th. This represents an increase of 97.1% compared to the previous 3.5 billion won. The expanded budget will be allocated to the 'establishment of a non-face-to-face medical support system' based on digital healthcare for island regions lacking medical infrastructure and the 'private-sector participatory fishing village mutual benefit sharing project' in collaboration with external ESG specialist companies. Through these initiatives, the Fisheries Cooperatives Foundation aims to provide more support to fishermen and fishing villages.