Korea Coast Guard

History

The Coast Guard Authority was formed on 23 December 1953 in Pusan, at the same time a Maritime Police Unit was also established as part of the National Police Agency. In October 1962, new bases were established in Inchon, Yeosu, Po-Hang, and Kunsan. In February 1963, the aviation unit of the KCG closed, though it reopened in the 1980s.

From 1980 onwards, the KCG greatly expanded its fleet, and in August 1991, the Police Unit was renamed the Korea National Maritime Police Agency. In 2007 the Korea National Maritime Police Agency was integrated into the Coast Guard. In the early 21st century, the fleet expanded to include various vessels of over 3,000 tons, and as of January 2002, the 'Korean Coast Guard Special Operation Unit' was officially formed. In May 2008, the "Search & Rescue Maintenance Unit" was newly constructed, and as of late 2008, various sub-agencies changed infrastructural composition.

Before its temporary disestablishment in 2014, the Korea Coast Guard had planned to field more vessels over 5000 tons by 2015, and to significantly expand its asymmetric warfare force through encouraging participation from other police branches.

Disestablishment

On May 18, 2014, President Park Geun-hye announced South Korea's "plans to break up its coastguard" after failing to respond well during the MV Sewol ferry disaster. According to Park, "investigation and information roles would be transferred to the South Korea National Police while the rescue and salvage operation and ocean security roles would be transferred to the Department for National Safety, not to be confused with the Korean Ministry of Security and Public Administration, which will be newly established".

On November 7, 2014, the National Assembly declared that the South Korean coast guard be disbanded as a result of South Korean lawmakers voting 146 to 71 in favor of transferring the Coast Guard's investigative responsibilities to the South Korea National Police Agency and establishing a broader safety agency. As a result, the South Korean Coast Guard is again under the Ministry of Public Safety and Security.

Reestablishment

Newly elected President Moon Jae-in announced his plan to re-organise the ministries and government agencies. Following the approval of the National Assembly, the South Korean coast guard was revived on July 26, 2017 as an independent, external agency under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Equipment

Aircraft

These are quoted from the "Korean Coast Guard 2012 White Paper".

List of ships of the Korea Coast Guard

These are quoted from "Naver 블로그 지식의 수집광".

Command

Formerly called Korea Maritime Police, is led by a Commissioner of the KCG and a deputy Commissioner.

The KCG is divided into six Bureaus and 23 Divisions. There are 16 KCG stations with 74 branch offices and 245 subagencies.

Other related agencies include:

• KCG Academy
• KCG R&D Center
• KCG Maintenance Agency

References

References

1. "Korean Coast Guard 2012 White Paper".
2. (2019). "Coast Guard Act".
3. Kang, Seung-woo. (20 June 2018). "New badges in town".
4. (2015-03-24). "South Korean lawmakers approve plans to disband coast guard in wake of April's ferry disaster". Associated Press (AP).
5. (1970-01-01). "BBC News — South Korea to break up coastguard after ferry disaster". BBC.
6. (19 May 2014). "South Korean president dismantles coast guard after ferry disaster". CNN.
7. "South Korea disbands coast guard in wake of April's ferry disaster". Associated Press (AP).
8. "South Korea approves plans to disband coast guard in wake of ferry disaster".
9. "South Korea Parliament Approves Plans To Disband Coast Guard After Ferry Disaster".
10. (21 February 2012). "SINGAPORE: Sikorsky to supply Korean Coast Guard S-92 helicopter".
11. (December 2017). "해양경찰, '조직도 및 함정배치현황".