01Life jacket mandatory wear and legal basis
According to the Fishing Vessel Safety Act revised on July 1, 2026, all persons aboard any fishing vessel, including sport‑fishing boats, must wear a life jacket regardless of weather or crew size. The previous rule applied only when there were two or fewer crew members or during weather warnings, and has been greatly expanded.
The law specifies a ‘continuous life‑jacket‑wear’ requirement for all aboard, imposing fines of approximately 900,000 KRW for a first offense, about 1,500,000 KRW for a second, and up to 3,000,000 KRW for a third. Exact amounts must be confirmed in the enforcement decree and rule tables.
Before each fishing trip, you must check the latest notices from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard for regional and yearly differences. This is because fine amounts can vary by local government.
02Structure and operating principle of the belt‑type life jacket
The belt‑type life jacket consists of high‑density foam inside (e.g., EVA 30~40 kg/m³) and an external buoyancy bladder that inflates on contact with water (polyurethane 0.5~1 mm).
When water penetrates the bladder, buoyancy increases solely through physical volume expansion, without any chemical reaction.
The dual‑layer design can cause the misconception of a ‘burst’, but even if the bladder ruptures, the internal foam remains and provides at least 0.8 kg of buoyancy, guaranteeing immediate flotation.
According to KOMSA statistics, life‑jacket wearers can stay afloat at submersion speeds of 1.5 m·s⁻¹ or less in 90 % of accidents, roughly twice the survival rate of those not wearing a jacket.
03Practical wear tips and cautions by situation
When the water temperature is 5 ~ 25 °C and depth is 10 ~ 30 m during a fishing trip, the belt‑type life jacket provides sufficient buoyancy. If waves exceed 1.5 m or wind is over 15 kt, secure the jacket tightly to your body.
The jacket’s belt is made of wide‑width (120 mm) high‑elasticity nylon (elastic modulus 24 GPa) and can be adjusted to fit. If too loose, the jacket may slip backward when you fall, causing loss of buoyancy.
Before wearing, visually inspect the internal bladder for damage and perform a compression test (10 kg load held for 30 seconds) to verify buoyancy recovery. Replace immediately if damaged.
- Loose belt causing the jacket to slip backward when falling
- Pulling and damaging the internal bladder by hand
- Wearing the jacket inside‑out after donning, reducing buoyancy
04Legal violation cases and fine applicability
Fines for not wearing a life jacket are issued in no small number every year. Fines range from 900,000 KRW to 3,000,000 KRW depending on the number of violations and circumstances.
For example, in 2024 a two‑person fishing vessel in Gangwon‑do went out in a storm without life jackets and received a first‑offense fine (≈ 900,000 KRW) plus additional penalty points. This exemplifies a typical breach of the ‘continuous wear for all’ rule.
To avoid legal liability, check the jacket wear status with a checklist (‘life jacket · belt · bladder · compression test’) before each trip and review the latest notices. In addition to fines, liability can increase significantly if an accident occurs.