This year marks the 60th anniversary of when Korea's distant-water fishing fleet dropped anchor in Las Palmas, Spain. Sailors who set out onto the open ocean for Korea, which struggled with poverty and a shortage of foreign currency in the 1960s, earned foreign exchange worth trillions of won over decades. But compared with miners and nurses dispatched to Germany, their dedication is seen as having received relatively less attention.
According to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Spain on the 14th (local time), the advance of Korea's distant-water fishing fleet into Las Palmas began in March 1966. It started when the "Ganghwa No. 601," affiliated with the Korea Fisheries Development Corporation, first dropped anchor in the port here. At the time, Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) stood at just $3.8 billion, underscoring the poor economic conditions.
The sweat of the sailors shed on distant seas became the bedrock of Korea's economic development. Las Palmas was once a forward base of Korea's distant-water fishing industry. At its peak, 210 distant-water fishing vessels and 15,000 Koreans came and went here. Korea's distant-water industry grew to account for 5% of total exports in 1971. The foreign currency earned over those 20 years amounted to $870 million, or about 1.3 trillion won at today's exchange rate. Some argue that the dollars they sent to Korea exceeded those sent by the miners and nurses in Germany.
But their contributions were not adequately remembered in their homeland for a long time. One hundred seventeen Korean sailors who lost their lives amid harsh working conditions are still laid to rest in the Las Palmas sailors' cemetery. The local Korean community and the Spanish government visit the cemetery every year to honor them.
Last year, a large sculpture honoring the sailors' dedication was also erected. It is the 6-meter-tall, 2-ton blue installation "Greeting Man." Created by artist Yoo Young-ho and installed in various places around the world since 2012, it conveys a message of gratitude and peace through the image of a polite bow. Yoo donated the piece to honor the dedication of Korea's distant-water fishing sailors. King Felipe VI of Spain also sent a congratulatory message to the unveiling ceremony.
Im Soo-seok, ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Spain, said, "This year marks the 60th anniversary since Koreans, centered on the distant-water fishing industry, advanced into Las Palmas," adding, "Alongside the miners and nurses dispatched to Germany at the time, they made a major contribution to Korea's foreign currency earnings, but it seems they have not received sufficient attention in comparison, which is regrettable."
He added, "You are true patriots of the sea who shed blood and sweat in a faraway land, contributing to the economic development of the poor homeland through fishing," and, "We will remember the past 60 years and create a brighter 60 years ahead."