The Korea Coast Guard (KCG; ) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement sub-agency responsible for the protection of the maritime borders of the Republic of Korea. It is organized under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

The KCG has its headquarters in Incheon, and operates hundreds of smaller operating stations along the coastline of South Korea. It operates 4 classes of heavy vessels (over 1,000 tons), 3 classes of medium vessels (over 250 tons), and 3 classes of light vessels (speedboats over 30 tons). The KCG also uses several types of 'special purpose watercraft', such as firefighting vessels, barges, high-speed scout boats, light patrols, and amphibious hovercraft. The KCG aviation unit fields 6 fixed-wing aircraft and 16 rotary-wing aircraft. The Coast Guard also had its own asymmetric warfare unit known the 'Korean Coast Guard Special Operation Unit'.

History

The Coast Guard Authority was formed on 23 December 1953 in Busan, at the same time, a Maritime Police Unit was also established as part of the National Police Agency. In October 1962, new bases were established in Incheon, Yeosu, Pohang, and Gunsan. In February 1963, the aviation wing of the KCG was disbanded, though it was reinstated in the 1980s.

From 1980 onwards, the KCG greatly expanded its fleet, and in August 1991, the Police Unit was renamed the Korea National Maritime Police Agency. In 2007 the Korea National Maritime Police Agency was integrated into the Coast Guard. In the early 21st century, the fleet expanded to include various vessels of over 3,000 tons, and as of January 2002, the 'Korean Coast Guard Special Operation Unit' was officially formed. In May 2008, the "Search & Rescue Maintenance Unit" was newly constructed, and as of late 2008, various sub-agencies changed infrastructural composition.

Before its temporary disestablishment in 2014, the Korea Coast Guard had planned to field more vessels over 5000 tons by 2015, and to significantly expand its asymmetric warfare force through encouraging participation from other police branches.

Disestablishment

On May 18, 2014, President Park Geun-hye announced "plans to break up its coastguard" after the agency failed to respond well during the MV Sewol ferry disaster. According to Park, "investigation and information roles would be transferred to the South Korea National Police while the rescue and salvage operation and ocean security roles would be transferred to the Department for National Safety, not to be confused with the Korean Ministry of Security and Public Administration, which will be newly established".

On November 7, 2014, the National Assembly declared that the KCG was to be disbanded as a result of South Korean lawmakers voting 146 to 71 in favor of transferring the Coast Guard's investigative responsibilities to the South Korea National Police Agency and establishing a broader safety agency. As a result, the South Korean Coast Guard was again under the Ministry of Public Safety and Security.

Reestablishment

Newly-elected President Moon Jae-in announced his plan to re-organise the ministries and government agencies. Following the approval of the National Assembly, the KCG was revived on July 26, 2017 as an independent, external agency under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Equipment

Aircraft These are quoted from the "Korean Coast Guard 2012 White Paper". AircraftTypeIn serviceCruise speedCapacityEnduranceFerry rangeNotes Fixed-wingCL-604 (Bombardier Challenger 600) Search and rescue airplane 1 833 km/h 11 passengers 8 hours 6,667 km C-212 (CASA C-212 Aviocar) Search and rescue airplane 1 370 km/h 7 passengers 5 hours 1,482 km CN-235 (CASA/IPTN CN-235) Search and rescue airplane 4 394 km/h 12 passengers 7 hours 2,037 km Rotary-wingBell 412SP SAR purpose helicopter 1 218 km/h 9 passengers 3.5 hours 722 km KA-32C (Kamov Ka-27) SAR purpose helicopter 8 211 km/h 12 passengers 4 hours 852 kmAgustaWestland AW139 SAR purpose helicopter 2 305 km/h 10 passengers 3.9 hours 819 km Eurocopter AS565 PantherMB Vessel-carried helicopter 5 296 km/h 8 passengers 3.3 hours 796 km Sikorsky S-92 SAR purpose helicopter 2, with an option for up to 2 additional 280 km/h 19 passengers 6 hours 1,000 km

List of ships of the Korea Coast Guard These are quoted from "Naver 블로그 지식의 수집광". ClassDisplacement (empty)Displacement (full load)In serviceHull number/In commissionBuilderArmament Large Patrol Vessel Sam Bong 5,000 tons 6,350 tons 2 /2002 Hyundai Heavy Industries Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 6,500 tons KCG Lee Cheong Ho (ARS-5002)/2015 Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm; OTO Melara 76 mm canon Tae Pyung Yang (Pacific) 3,000 tons ? tons 13 3001/1994 Unknown 2 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan ? tons3002/1998 Unknown 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 4,450 tons3003/2003 Hanjin Heavy Industries 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 3,860 tons 3005/2004 Hanjin Heavy Industries 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 3,900 tons 3006/2005 Hanjin Heavy Industries 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 3007/2006 Hanjin Heavy Industries 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 3008/2008 Hanjin Heavy Industries 1 x OTO Melara 40 mm, 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 3009/2010 Hyundai Heavy Industries Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 3010/2010 Hyundai Heavy Industries Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm ? tons 3011/2012(Training Role) STX Offshore & Shipbuilding 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 4,200 tons3012/2012 Hyundai Heavy Industries Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 4,200 tons3013/2015 STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 4,200 tons3015/2015 STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm Je Min 1,500 tons 2,200 tons 12 1501/1988 Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Sea Vulcan 20 mm2,246 tons 1502/1996 2,700 tons 1503/2000 Hanjin Heavy Industries Sea Vulcan 20 mm 2,700 tons 1505/2001 2,700 tons 1506/2004 Hyundai Heavy Industries Sea Vulcan 20 mm 2,700 tons 1507/2004 Hyundai Heavy Industries Sea Vulcan 20 mm 2,700 tons 1508/2005Hyundai Heavy Industries 3 x Sea Vulcan 20 mm 2,700 tons 1509/2007 Hanjin Heavy Industries2,700 tons1510/2007 Hanjin Heavy Industries 1 x OTO Melara 40 mm, 1 x 20 mm Sea Vulcan 2,700 tons 1511/2008 Hyundai Heavy Industries Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 2,265 tons1512/2011 STX Offshore & Shipbuilding 2,265 tons1513/2012 STX Offshore & Shipbuilding HAN-RIVER 1,000 tons 1,530 tons 9 1001/2012 Hyundai Heavy Industries Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 1,530 tons 1002/2012 1,600 tons 1003/2013 STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 1005/2015 1,630 tons 1006/1997 Sea Vulcan 20 mm 1,860 tons 1007/2002 Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Sea Vulcan 20 mm 1,860 tons 1008/2004 Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 1,860 tons 1009/2009 Hyundai Heavy Industries Breda 40mm, Sea Vulcan 20 mm 1,530 tons 1010/2012 Hanjin Heavy Industries Doosan DST 'No Bong' dual 40mm gun, Sea Vulcan 20 mm ClassDisplacement (empty)In serviceCountry of originHull numberNotes Medium Sized Patrol Vessel Taegeuk 500 tons 16 501~518 Haeuri(type A) 300 tons 22 300~303, 305~307, 308~323 Haeuri(type B) 250 tons 2 278,279 Haeuri(type C) 200 tons 2 201,202 Small sized patrol vessel Haenuri 100 tons 26 103~131 P class(type A)30~50 tons 82 P01~P102, P105~P112, P127 P class(type B) 30,50,100 tons 20 Special VesselS class(coastal patrol boat) 4.5t 53 S01~S70 Fireboat 200t 1 Response Vessel 12t, 50t, 85t, 140t, 150t, 450t 33 All-Weather Amphibious Hovercraft 8

Command Formerly called Korea Maritime Police, is led by a Commissioner of the KCG and a deputy Commissioner.

The KCG is divided into six Bureaus and 23 Divisions. There are 16 KCG stations with 74 branch offices and 245 subagencies.

Other related agencies include: KCG Academy KCG R&D Center KCG Maintenance Agency

References

External links

Korean Coast Guard 122 Rescue Unit official website