Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Drunk surfing to be banned in Korea
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By Jung Min-ho
Surfing while under the influence of alcohol will be legally banned in Korea starting June 2025.
According to the Korean Coast Guard, the revised law of water-related leisure activities will come into force on June 21 next year to prohibit drunk people from riding water leisure crafts such as a surfboard or a kayak. Currently, only motorized ones like jet skis are banned.
Under the new rule, a person who is found to have ridden a surfboard while drunk — a blood alcohol content of 0.03 percent or higher — will be subject to a fine of up to 1 million won ($685). Those who refuse a sobriety test can also be fined 1 million won.
The Coast Guard pushed for the revision amid a rise in accidents involving drunk riders.
“With the revision of the law, we will continue to identify unreasonable rules with regard to public safety and strengthen penalties realistically,” Kim Jong-wook, head of the Coast Guard, said.
Experts say drinking alcohol before surfing or kayaking could increase the risk of accidents as it numbs the senses and negatively affects the rider’s judgment and reaction time.