delivers his commemorative speech at a ceremony to celebrate the 18th anniversary 

of Ocean Day, which took place at Malipo Beach in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do,

 site of the nation’s worst oil spill in 2007.

   Aceremony to celebrate the 18th anniversary of Ocean Day took place at Malipo Beach in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do, site of the nation’s worst oil spill in 2007, in which about 3,000 people, including neighborhood residents, participated.

Among those on hand at the ceremony were Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Yoon Jin-sook, and Chungcheongnam-do Governor Ahn Hee-jung

The 2013 Ocean Day event was held in the Taean area, which has recovered from the environmental effects of the nation’s worst oil spill in 2007. True to the theme “A New Era of Happiness and a New Sea of Hope,” the anniversary event coincided with diverse events including an awards ceremony for those praised for their merits.

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won

President Park Geun-hye said in her video message to the anniversary event, “When the unlimited potential of the oceans is nurtured, our hope will grow.” She went on to say that the government will increase investments into maritime manpower development and science and technology fields since oceans, which handle more than 99 percent of the nation’s total export and import cargoes, are not only the repository of grain and lives, but also a huge road for logistics. 

Prime Minister Chung said in his commemorative speech that the government plans to raise the global competitiveness of the maritime and port industries through the development of each port based on its specialized features, to nurture marine, bio and fisheries industries and to take comprehensives steps to ensure maritime safety.

Korea’s becoming a permanent observer on the Arctic Council will serve as an opportunity to raise the nation’s standing in the development of the polar region, and the government will step up its efforts to extend its economic sphere through such means as the exploration of the North Pole Route.

Governor Ahn said in his speech, “Oceans have industrial values such as logistics, fisheries industries, and living resources, cultural values such as tourism, leisure, and sports, and ecological values such as environment, energy, and mineral resources.” The governor congratulated the holding of the first Ocean Day anniversary event in Taean since the revival of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, expressing the hope that the event will serve as an opportunity to resurge the ministry.

Ahn noted that the dark oil slicks in the West Sea have been removed, but the unseen scars need to be healed. He called for inter-ministry measures to resolve compensation issues regarding damaged ships as soon as possible and heal the scars and pains of the neighborhood victims. 

He stressed the fact that the restoring of the West Sea from despair six years ago to a sea full of life today is owed to the concerted efforts of neighborhood residents and 1.23 million volunteers from around the country.