Yoon orders Coast Guard to 'sternly clamp down' on illegal Chinese fishing

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, inspects devices on the Korean Coast Guard's patrol vessel in Incheon on Tuesday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday ordered the Korea Coast Guard to "sternly clamp down" on Chinese vessels' illegal fishing activities during blue crab fishing season.

Yoon made the remarks as he inspected how the Coast Guard's special patrol forces crack down on Chinese fishing boats’ unauthorized activities during his visit to Incheon on the same day.

A large number of Chinese fishing vessels catch fish and crabs in waters surrounding Incheon, also known as the Yellow Sea.

“Even North Korea, which is China’s close military ally, takes strong actions against Chinese fishing boats’ operations," Yoon said. "However, we have not been restricting intrusions because of China-South Korea relation concerns.”

He said the government would become “meaningless” when a country acts consciously in light of neighboring strong powers but fails to provide a livelihood for its fishers.

Yoon boarded the Coast Guard's patrol vessel and was briefed by Park Saeng-deok, the head of a special patrol unit, on how the Coast Guard is curbing Chinese vessels’ attempts to engage in illegal fishing in South Korea’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

Yoon requested officers to focus on “safeguarding maritime security” as it is directly related to national security and seafood resources intended for South Koreans' consumption.

He said keeping the waters clear of illegal Chinese vessel activities protects “Korean people’s safety and national interests,” promising to modernize patrol vessels and officers’ equipment.

Last month, a fisher in South Jeolla explained difficulties caused by “Chinese vessels sweeping up fish in South Korean waters” to President Yoon during a public livelihood debate. Afterward, Yoon instructed the Oceans Ministry and the Coast Guard to "firmly" limit Chinese boats' illegal fishing.

The South Korean government has captured five Chinese illegal fishing ships and evicted some 36 vessels from the country's waters between March 25 and 31.

BY LEE HAY-JUNE, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]