(image: Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology)
SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — A decreasing number of Korean marine officers is leading to expectations of a shortage in personnel to staff the Korean fleet.
According to a scenario outlined by the Korea Shipowners’ Association, there will be a shortage of 2,710 ship officers by 2030. This shortage will rise to 3,605 people in 2040 and 4,426 people by 2050.
If the scenario is correct, Korean marine officers will only be capable of staffing 1,000 Korean ships out of 1,500 by 2030.
Marine officers are giving up their jobs due to long working hours, low income, limited flexibility with vacations, separation from society and family, and the challenges of living on a ship.
According to the association, the minimum monthly wage for land workers was 1,914,000 won (US$1,490) in 2021. The minimum monthly wage for a sailor stood slightly higher at 2,363,000 won.
The turnover rate of sailors surged from 12.8 percent in 2015 to 22.2 percent in 2017 and 21.9 percent in 2021.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
