- Jindo-gun and Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, become latest additions to the Seaweed Industry Promotion Zones


The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Kang Do-Hyung) announced that it has selected Jindo-gun and Jangheung-gun of Jeollanam-do as two additional Seaweed Industry Promotion Zones.


A Seaweed Industry Promotion Zone is an area designated to revitalize the seaweed sector, supporting seaweed production, aquaculture, processing, distribution, and exports. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries designates promotion zones that satisfy all requirements* under the Act on Fostering and Supporting the Seaweed Industry through public competition, providing KRW 5 billion (including national and regional expenses) per site. Three sites, Seocheon-gun of Chungcheongnam-do and Haenam-gun and Sinan-gun of Jeollanam-do, were designated seaweed industry promotion zones last year.


For the development of the seaweed sector, local governments with designated seaweed industry promotion zones will establish action plans tailored to their local characteristics, including actions to ① improve productivity and secure price competitiveness, ② improve quality and ensure quality, hygiene, and safety, and ③ secure export competitiveness, expand export markets, and operate international seaweed exchanges, thereby responding to the growing domestic demand for raw seaweed and engaging in efforts to increase the added value of seaweed.


In addition, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to respond to the recent increase in dried seaweed prices due to decreased raw seaweed production in China and Japan and increased domestic demand for exports. In the short term, the Ministry will include dried seaweed to the list of event items for its Korea Fishery Sale (March 7 – 31), currently offered via offline marts and online malls. In the mid- to long term, the Ministry will continue to expand the supply of raw seaweed by installing new seaweed aquafarms and developing land-based seaweed farming technology while also stabilizing prices.