Ocean and Polar Research ISSN:2234-7313(Online) Ocean and Polar Research

In Korea, in order to manage marine waste, a direct cause of marine pollution, the principle of the polluter pays is applied to impose and collect Marine Environmental Improvement Charges. The Marine Environmental Improvement Charge was introduced to curb the rapidly increasing marine discharge, driven by economic reasons that make marine disposal cheaper than onshore disposal, while pursuing a policy of prohibiting marine litter. The current criteria for calculating waste marine discharge and Marine Environmental Improvement Charges in Korea have remained unchanged for over 20 years since their implementation in 2001. To achieve the appropriate goals of marine environmental management and ensure rational operation and maintenance, it can be considered necessary to periodically review the suitability of the calculation criteria and evaluate the need for institutional improvements. In light of these considerations, this paper aims to review how waste marine discharge is managed domestically and internationally, analyze the current system for calculating Marine Environmental Improvement Charges, assess its appropriateness, and propose ways to improve the system by considering adjustments to Marine Environmental Improvement Charges.