Introduction of 'Marine Safety Supervisor System'… Transition to Preventive System

Marine safety supervisors, tasked with guiding and overseeing the safety management status of ships and related business facilities, will be introduced.

The government held a State Council meeting on the morning of the 7th at the Government Complex Sejong, presided over by Prime Minister Jung Hong-won, and passed the 'Partial Amendment to the Marine Safety Act' based on these provisions.

The government plans to place qualified marine safety supervisors at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and other agencies to conduct guidance and supervision activities to prevent marine accidents.

The government explained that this system was introduced to transition the maritime safety management system from a post-hoc guidance and inspection system to a proactive preventive management system.

The amendment also decided to designate marine transport business operators and workers who contributed to improving maritime safety and reducing marine accidents as 'excellent marine safety business operators' and provide support to them.

The amendment also includes provisions requiring central administrative agencies and local governments to submit safety inspection reports to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and undergo marine traffic safety inspections when carrying out business projects subject to safety inspections.

Additionally, as a follow-up measure to the collapse of the Gyeongju Mauna Ocean Resort, the government passed the 'Partial Amendment to the School Safety Accident Prevention Act.'

According to the amendment, schools must mandatorily establish safety measures before planning school experience education programs such as school trips or retreats.

In particular, school principals must verify the licensing status and safety inspection results of private companies when outsourcing experience education activities.

The 'Disaster Relief Act Amendment' also passed through the State Council, which establishes a disaster relief information system for accurate management of disaster relief supplies and provides the basis for the National Fire Agency to conduct research and development projects on disaster relief technology.

The 'Natural Disaster Countermeasures Act Amendment' was also processed, which expands the subject of disaster map creation and utilization from local governments to central administrative agencies, and enables disaster management agencies to conduct independent damage surveys when natural disasters occur.