To overcome the fragmented and functional limitations of coastal and marine management, the Korean government established the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 1996. The Ministry currently exercises comprehensive planning and implementation authority over marine and fisheries policies. By doing so, the Ministry implements specific practices for sustainable ocean development, such as systematically reducing marine waste, significantly improving marine water quality, expanding marine protected areas, promoting the decarbonization of marine and fisheries, innovating sustainable fisheries management, and realizing the blue economy based on new marine industries.
Additionally, with the successful hosting of the 2012 Yeosu World Expo, the Korean government has reinforced its marine cooperation with countries in Asia, Africa, the Pacific islands, and the Caribbean islands to fulfill its commitment to supporting the coastal and marine management capacities of developing countries.