- The proportion of areas with coastal erosion concerns or severe erosion decreased by 20.9%p compared to the previous year

- Expanding the survey area to 368 and strengthening the management system focused on climate change response and prevention in 2026

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced that the proportion of areas where erosion is a concern or is severe has decreased by 20.9%p from 65.3% last year to 44.4%, according to the results of the 2025 coastal erosion survey.

The coastal erosion survey has been conducted annually since 2003 in accordance with Article 5 of the Coastal Management Act to understand the erosion status of major coastal areas in Korea. The Erosion Grade* is determined by measuring the width and area of sandy beaches* in each district.
* Grade A (Good): Stable condition; Grade B (Average): Erosion but relatively stable; Grade C (Concern): Concerns of erosion damage; Grade D (serious): High possibility of erosion damage

A total of 229 districts* including all districts in East Coast (Gangwon and Gyeongbuk Provinces) and those receiving Grade C or D were surveyed in 2025. To determine the extent of erosion improvement, 225 districts excluding 4 new districts were analyzed, and results showed that 100 districts (44.4%) were classified as ‘”Concern/Serious (C/D) districts”; this is a 20.9%p decrease compared to the proportion of the same districts in 2024 (65.3%).

Such outcome is deemed attributable to a combination of factors—ocean-climatic factors such as the absence of typhoons affecting Korea in 2025 and a decrease in the frequency of high waves over 2.5m, coupled with the cumulative performance of coastal erosion management and response policies implemented to date.
* Compared to the previous year, the frequency of high waves decreased by 32.5%, and the duration decreased by 36.4%.

Of the 225 analyzed districts, 140 maintained the same grade as the previous year, 73 districts with improved erosion had their grades upgraded, and 12 districts with severe erosion had their grades downgraded.
MOF is considering the early implementation of coastal management projects to prevent erosion in 12 districts where the erosion grade has been downgraded. At the beginning of this year, the number of districts subject to investigation will be increased to 368 to monitor the erosion status continuously. The Ministry also plans to strengthen its prevention-oriented management system by securing buffer space for coastal disasters and expanding the coastal conservation baselines currently being piloted in the East Coast region.

The results of this survey will be used as basic data for coastal disaster prevention, and detailed results are available in the archive of MOF’s Coastal Portal website (https://coast.mof.go.kr).

"The sea level along Korea's coast is rising by an average of about 3mm per year, so the importance of coastal erosion management due to climate change has increased. We will create a coastal area that the public can use with confidence through scientific research and systematic management," said Gong Du-pyo, Director General of Port Bureau at MOF.