Korea's coastline measures 15,270.4 kilometers, up 307.6 kilometers from 12 years ago. The length of the coastline continues to change depending on development and natural environmental conditions.
The National Institute of Oceanographic Research of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 6th the results of the "second coastline change survey (2021-2025)" containing this information.
This survey was conducted from 2021 to last year. During this period, the total coastline length was 15,270.4 kilometers. The natural coastline was 9,565.2 kilometers, and the artificial coastline was 5,705.2 kilometers. A natural coastline is a line connecting points where the sea surface at the highest water level during a given observation period meets land in its natural state. An artificial coastline refers to a line connecting points where the sea surface meets structures created by construction.
Compared with 2014, when the National Institute of Oceanographic Research first released a related survey, the coastline length increased by a total of 307.6 kilometers. Although the natural coastline decreased by 311.9 kilometers, the artificial coastline increased by 619.5 kilometers.
Accordingly, the share of the artificial coastline in the total coastline is also increasing. The artificial coastline rose from 34.0% in 2014 to 37.4% this year. In contrast, the natural coastline fell from 66.0% to 62.6% over the same period.
The National Institute of Oceanographic Research said, "This shows that the domestic coastline is continuously changing depending on development, use, and natural environmental conditions," and added, "In practice, not only port and fishing port development, breakwater installation, and coastal maintenance projects but also natural factors such as erosion and sedimentation were analyzed to affect coastline changes."
Acting Director Cha Seong-sin of the National Institute of Oceanographic Research said, "The coastline change survey data are national statistics that are importantly used for administrative, legal, and policy purposes, such as calculating national land area, allocating fishing rights between local governments, and paying ordinary local grants," and added, "We will continue to provide the public with accurate coastline information through regular and scientific precision surveys."