[Column] "Irreplaceable Korea, Irreplaceable Life Jacket"

The sea is the foundation of our lives, offering abundance and opportunities. At the same time, however, it is also a place where unforeseen dangers can arise at any moment. As more citizens participate in maritime activities and coastal usage becomes part of daily life, protecting safety at sea can no longer rely solely on reactive measures. A comprehensive safety network is required—one that can prevent accidents in advance, detect hazards early, and enable the fastest rescue operations in times of crisis.

This year, the Korea Coast Guard has focused its resources on preventing marine accidents and stopping maritime crimes that threaten public welfare, such as illegal fishing, so that citizens can use the sea with peace of mind. As a result, fatalities and injuries caused by marine accidents have been reduced by approximately 24% compared to the previous year, and there have been notable achievements such as the seizure of 21 illegally-operating foreign vessels. Still, a more fundamental system of prevention and on-site responsiveness remains a key challenge for the Korea Coast Guard.

The slogan for the government's second year is "Irreplaceable Korea." It reflects the vision to enhance the nation's competitiveness so that Korea can become a country the world truly needs. The lives and safety of our people are core values of the nation—just as irreplaceable as our world-class technology, industries, and culture.

The clearest example of that value at sea is the life jacket. In the moment one falls into the water, nothing else can substitute for a life jacket. Regret after an accident or belated preparation cannot protect one's life. In a critical moment, only a properly-worn life jacket can save lives. Yet, the practice of wearing life jackets has not fully become part of our everyday culture. Building a culture where the use of life jackets is commonplace can prevent countless tragic accidents. The Korea Coast Guard is working to amend the "Coastal Accident Prevention Act" to legally require life jacket use in hazardous coastal areas.

"A life jacket is a life vest." This message is more than a simple safety campaign. It emphasizes that nothing can replace a human life. This philosophy also applies to the nation’s mission of safeguarding the sea. Korea’s maritime security cannot be secured merely by responding after an incident occurs. Illegal foreign fishing vessels, transnational crimes, drug smuggling, and gray-zone threats must all be detected and prevented ahead of time.

To do so, the Korea Coast Guard is building a future security system based on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). MDA is a safety network that connects diverse maritime information, enabling the early detection of risks and proactive response to keep Korea’s sea safe.

If the life jacket is an irreplaceable safety device for individual lives, then MDA is an irreplaceable safety system for protecting Korea’s maritime domain. Human lives are irreplaceable. Korea’s sea is irreplaceable. And so too is the Korea Coast Guard’s vital mission to protect these precious lives and the sea.

The Korea Coast Guard will continue to do its utmost to stand by the people, serving as a reliable life jacket for the seas of Korea.

Jang Insik, Acting Commissioner General of the Korea Coast Guard

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.