Jae Ryoung OH, Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute

Development-oriented coastal utilization has resulted in the deterioration of the coastal environment, loss of tidal mudflats, physical alterations and destruction of habitats, and other harmful effects to the coastal ecosystems in Korea. To deal with such problems more efficiently, an integrated coastal management (ICM) system has been incorporated into the national planning regime since the mid-1990s. The Korean government also established the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries (MOMAF) in 1996 for comprehensive and harmonized handling of marine issues.

MOMAF carried out coastal assessment projects from 1996 to 1998 to adequately respond to various coastal issues and enacted the Coastal Management Act in early 1999. The Act functions as a framework that provides fundamental and comprehensive guidelines on rational use of coastal resources. The main components of it include a geographical scope of the coastal areas, its relationship to other laws, contents and the establishment process of ICM plans at local and national levels, coastal improvement projects, and periodic evaluation.

The National ICM plan based on Coastal Management Act was established in September 2000. To implement the plan, actions like cancellation of major coastal development projects, establishment of local ICM plans, comprehensive assessment of protected tidal wetland areas, designation and management of Coastal Environmental Management Areas (CEMA), establishment of Ocean Korea 21 (the national framework plan for the sustainable development of the ocean) were taken. Furthermore, public awareness on sustainable use of marine resources has been enhanced, and stakeholders have paid enormous attention to implementation of ICM. Thus it can be expected that the ICM regime inclusive of Coastal Management Act will be a window of opportunity for sustainable use of coastal areas in Korea.

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