Korea Coast Guard

The Korea Coast Guard (KCG; Korean: 해양경찰청; Hanja: 海洋警察廳, Revised Romanization: Haeyang-gyeongchal-cheong, literally Maritime Police Agency) is a South Korean law enforcement sub-agency responsible for maritime safety and control off the coast. The KCG is an independent and external branch of Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Korea Coast Guard 해양경찰청 Haeyang-gyeongchal-cheong
KCG emblem
Racing stripe
Flag Ensign
Abbreviation	KCG
Agency overview
Formed	July 2017 – present (as 해양경찰청), December 1953 – November 2014 (as 해양경찰청) November 2014 – July 2017 (as 국민안전처 해양경비안전본부)
Employees	10,095 personnel[1]
Jurisdictional structure
National agency	South Korea
Operations jurisdiction	South Korea
Operational structure
Headquarters	Incheon, South Korea
Elected officer responsible	Cho Hyun-bai[2]
Parent agency	Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (2017~) Ministry of Public Safety and Security (2014~2017) Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (1996~2014) Korean National Police Agency (1953~1996)[3]

KCG vessel No. 3006 sailing alongside U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) in August 2007

The KCG has its headquarters in Sejong City has hundreds of smaller operating stations along the coastline of the Korean Peninsula. It operates 4 classes of heavy vessels (over 1000 tons), 3 classes of medium vessels (over 250 tons), and 3 classes of light vessels (speedboats over 30 tons). The KCG also uses several types of 'special purpose watercraft', such as firefighting vessels, barges, high-speed scout boats, light patrols, and amphibious hovercraft. The KCG aviation unit fields 6 fixed-wing aircraft and 16 rotary-wing aircraft. The Coast Guard also had its own asymmetric warfare unit named the 'Korean Coast Guard Special Operation Unit'.

History

A Kamov Ka-32 of the Republic of Korea Coast Guard

ROK Coast Guard, 122 Rescue Unit, Yeosu

The Coast Guard Authority was formed on 23 December 1953 in Busan, 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 Incheon, Yeosu, Pohang, 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 the May 2008, the "Search & Rescue Maintenance Unit" was newly constructed, and as of late 2008, various sub-agencies changed infrastructural composition. Before its disestablishment the Korean 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.[4] 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".[5]

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.[3][6][7][8] As a result, the South Korean Coast Guard is again under the Ministry of Public Safety and Security.

Resurrection

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 Korea Coast Guard was revived on July 26, 2017 as an independent, external agency under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Goals

(From the English home page of the Korea Coast Guard)

• Develop and maintain operational capability to ensure national maritime sovereignty.
• Be recognized by the nation as the guardian of maritime security.
• Become the foremost maritime security agency in Northeast Asia.
• Develop and improve the ability to respond to maritime search and rescue requirements throughout the area of responsibility.
• Develop and improve the ability to preserve and protect the maritime environment.
• Be fully responsive to public requests for administrative services.
• Continually improve the organization and operation of the agency.

Main Duties

(From the English home page of the Korean Coast Guard)

• 1. Search and Rescue

Korea Coast Guard performs to respond speedy and effective rescue activities in order to save a precious life and to protect property when it occurred maritime accidents.

• 2. Maritime Security

Korea Coast Guard ensures to protect sea from maritime crime and keep maritime security and peace.

• 3. Marine Environmental Protection

Korea Coast Guard has always been in the forefront for surveillance of marine pollution and prevention of hazardous spills in order to keep waters clean and to preserve abundant marine resources.

• 4. International Affairs

We, Korea Coast Guard, always do our best to respond quickly against international maritime crimes including enforcement of Alien Migrant Interdiction by seizing current tendency of international crime.

• 5. Maritime Traffic Safety Management

Korea Coast Guard provides an unlimited protection to secure maritime tourism, safe marine recreational activities, and to keep people from any kind of potential dangers and barriers.

• 6. Maritime Pollution Response

Korea Coast Guard performs to build a clean maritime environment through prevention activities thoroughly against hazardous spills or discharge and perfect pollution control.

Equipment

Aircraft

These are quoted from "Korea Coast Guard 2012 White Paper"[1]

Aircraft	Type	In service	Cruise speed	Capacity	Endurance	Ferry range	Notes
Fixed-wing
CL-604(Bombardier Challenger 600)	Search and rescue airplane	1	833㎞/h	11 passengers	8 hours	6,667㎞
C-212(CASA C-212 Aviocar)	Search and rescue airplane	1	370㎞/h	7 passengers	5 hours	1,482㎞
CN-235(CASA/IPTN CN-235)	Search and rescue airplane	4	394㎞/h	12 passengers	7 hours	2,037㎞
Rotary-wing
Bell 412SP	SAR purpose helicopter	1	218㎞/h	9 passengers	3.5 hours	722㎞
KA-32C(Kamov Ka-27)	SAR purpose helicopter	8	211㎞/h	12 passengers	4 hours	852㎞
AgustaWestland AW139	SAR purpose helicopter	2	305㎞/h	10 passengers	3.9 hours	819㎞
Eurocopter AS565 PantherMB	Vessel-carried helicopter	5	296㎞/h	8 passengers	3.3 hours	796㎞
Sikorsky S-92	SAR purpose helicopter	2, with an option for up to 2 additional[9]	280㎞/h	19 passengers	6 hours	1,000 ㎞

List of ships of the Republic of Korea Coast Guard

These are quoted from "Naver 블로그 지식의 수집광"[10]

Class	Displacement (empty)	In service	Hull number/In commission	Displacement (full load)	Builder	Armament
Large Patrol Vessel
Sam Bong	5,000 tonnes	2	KCG Sam Bong (ARS 5001)/2002 KCG Lee Cheong Ho (ARS 5002)/2015	6,350 tonnes 6,500 tonnes	Hyundai Heavy Industries	OTO Melara 76 mm canon(5002 Only), Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm
Tae Pyung Yang (Pacific)	3,000 tonnes	13	3001/1994 3002/1998 3003/2003 3005/2004 3006/2005 3007/2006 3008/2008 3009/2010 3010/2010 3011/2012(Training Role) 3012/2012 3013/2015 3015/2015	4,450 tonnes 3,860 tonnes 3,900 tonnes 3,900 tonnes 3,900 tonnes 3,900 tonnes 3,900 tonnes 4,200 tonnes	Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Hyundai Heavy Industries STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding	2 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 1 x OTO Melara 40 mm, 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm
Je Min	1,500 tonnes	12	1501/1988 1502/1996 1503/2000 1505/2001 1506/2004 1507/2004 1508/2005 1509/2007 1510/2007 1511/2008 1512/2011 1513/2012	2,200 tonnes 2,246 tonnes 2,700 tonnes 2,700 tonnes 2,700 tonnes 2,700 tonnes 2,700 tonnes 2,700 tonnes 2,700 tonnes 2,700 tonnes 2,265 tonnes 2,265 tonnes	Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hanjin Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding	Sea Vulcan 20 mm Sea Vulcan 20 mm Sea Vulcan 20 mm Sea Vulcan 20 mm 3 x Sea Vulcan 20 mm 1 x OTO Melara 40 mm, 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm
HAN-RIVER	1,000 tonnes	9	1001/2012 1002/2012 1003/2013 1005/2015 1006/1997 1007/2002 1008/2004 1009/2009 1010/2012	1,530tonnes 1,530 tonnes 1,600 tonnes 1,600 tonnes 1,630 tonnes 1,860 tonnes 1,860 tonnes 1,860 tonnes 1,530 tonnes	Hyundai Heavy Industries STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries	Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Sea Vulcan 20 mm Sea Vulcan 20 mm Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Breda 40mm, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm

Class	Displacement (empty)	In service	Country of origin	Hull number	Notes
Medium Sized Patrol Vessel
Taegeuk	500 tonnes	16	South Korea	501~518
Haeuri(type A)	300 tonnes	22	South Korea	300~303, 305~307, 308~323
Haeuri(type B)	250 tonnes	2	South Korea	278,279
Haeuri(type C)	200 tonnes	2	South Korea	201,202
Small sized patrol vessel
Haenuri	100 tonnes	26	South Korea	103~131
P class(type A)	30~50 tonnes	82	South Korea	P01~P102, P105~P112, P127
P class(type B)	30,50,100 tonnes	20	South Korea
Special Vessel
S class(coastal patrol boat)	4.5t	53	South Korea	S01~S70
Fireboat	200t	1	South Korea
Response Vessel	12t, 50t, 85t, 140t, 150t, 450t	33	South Korea
All-Weather Amphibious Hovercraft		8	South Korea

Charter of the Republic of Korea Coast Guard

(From the English home page of the Korean Coast Guard)

• "We are the proud Korea Coast Guard to secure our own sea by inheriting a spirit and a tradition of the marine nation. We are charged with the historical mission to protect freedom and interest of the public, and pursue peace and prosperity of Nation, furthermore, makes contribution to the peace of the world. Therefore, we pledge to accomplish our assigned duties and clarify the KCG's direction."
• We are a devoted Coast Guard undaunted by any affliction as a leading protagonist of the maritime security
• We are a righteous Coast Guard who properly administers the law according to the own conscience as the symbol of the law and justice.
• We are a global Coast Guard who maintains international maritime order and conserves a sea which is mutual asset among all nations.
• We are a growing Coast Guard who aims for the future by developing the knowledge and ability with the creative attitude.

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

Fleet

• Patrol Boats
• Law Enforcement Craft
• Pollution Response Boats
• Aircraft
• Search and Rescue Craft

References

1. "Korea Coast Guard 2012 White Paper". Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
2. Kang, Seung-woo (20 June 2018). "New badges in town". koreatimes.co.kr.
3. "South Korean lawmakers approve plans to disband coast guard in wake of April's ferry disaster". FOX News. Associated Press (AP). 2015-03-24.
4. "BBC News — South Korea to break up coastguard after ferry disaster". BBC. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
5. K.J. Kwon; Paula Hancocks; Jethro Mullen. "South Korean president dismantles coast guard after ferry disaster". CNN.
6. "South Korea disbands coast guard in wake of April's ferry disaster". Global News. Associated Press (AP).
7. "South Korea approves plans to disband coast guard in wake of ferry disaster". The Globe and Mail. Associated Press.
8. "South Korea Parliament Approves Plans To Disband Coast Guard After Ferry Disaster". Huffington Post. Associated Press (AP).
9. "SINGAPORE: Sikorsky to supply Korea Coast Guard S-92 helicopter". 21 February 2012.
10. "해양경찰, '조직도 및 함정배치현황". Retrieved 2013-03-20.

External links

• Official website (in Korean)
• Korea Coast Guard 122 Rescue Unit official website (in Korean)

	North: Russian FSB Coast Guard
West: China Coast Guard	Korea Coast Guard	East: Japan Coast Guard United States Coast Guard
	South: Philippine Coast Guard Republic of China Coast Guard