Sailors leaving the sea...Deepening manpower shortage and aging population

[Anchor]
The number of Korean sailors, a key human resource in the maritime and fisheries sector, continues to decline.

In particular, as young people leave one by one, there is an aging phenomenon, and foreigners are filling the vacancy.

It is pointed out that the work environment should be improved and opportunities should be increased.

I'm reporter Ra Kyung-hoon from Ulsan Central Broadcasting Station.

[Reporter]
South Korea is the world's fifth largest export destination and relies on shipping for more than 99 percent of its trade volume.

The shipping industry is actively taking place through Ulsan Port, Busan Port, and Incheon Port.

Korean sailors who work on sea, cargo ships, or fishing boats also play a key role in transporting strategic materials in national emergency situations such as war.

However, while the number of Korean sailors is decreasing every year, there is an aging crew.

The number of Korean sailors decreased every year from 37,000 in 2014 to 30,000 last year, down 17% over nine years.

Among them, the number of sailors in their 60s and older increased by 42% in nine years, the only increase in all age groups.

In particular, the number of internal flight crew members with lower average monthly wages than external flights is increasing.

[Ulsan A shipping company official: Foreign ships (seafarers) get tax exemption up to 5 million won, but internal ships (seafarers) don't have that, but they get less wages and more taxes.... There are some areas where there is not much difference in wages from working on land....]

The conditions of working long hours in a segregated environment above the sea are one of the reasons why younger generations don't get on board or change jobs.

[Ulsan A shipping company official: The environment is very different from what the graduates thought, so there are a lot of people who can't stand it. These days, young people are reluctant to live in groups on the sea because they live mainly on their own..]

Due to this situation, foreigners are filling the vacancy of Korean sailors.

Therefore, it is pointed out that tax benefits and welfare as well as social awareness and opportunities for seafarers should be expanded.

[Professor Lim Sang-seop / Department of Navigation Convergence, Korea Maritime University : Work-life balance, social and cultural environment where people can be treated for professions, and various channels to enter the land with this sailor's career] Wouldn't it be a way for today's generation to enter the land?.]

Since Korea's competitiveness, which relies on shipping for the majority of its trade volume, is after all seafarers, it seems urgent to come up with a solution that prevents Korean sailors from leaving.

I'm Ra Kyung-hoon from JCN News.