On the 16th, South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries revealed a second comprehensive management plan aimed at improving the welfare of animals housed in aquariums and expanding their functions in marine ecosystem conservation and education. The plan includes the introduction of a pre-consultation system involving expert inspectors from the initial design and construction phase of aquariums to ensure stable implementation of aquarium permits. It aims to establish a collective review process involving multiple experts for consistent evaluations of aquarium designs.

To improve marine animal welfare, the new guidelines will consider not only the species characteristics but also various life stages including growth and reproduction, leading to the creation of environment standards suited to individual animal conditions. Improved operational guidelines for aquarium experience events will match elevated animal welfare standards. Furthermore, the plan seeks to enhance the role of aquariums as marine animal conservation hubs by reforming the structure for animal rescue and rehabilitation programs to be more field-oriented, aiming to implement a certification system based on rescue performance for organizations and individuals.

To systematically advance aquarium policies, the National Marine Species Restoration Center, currently under construction, is designated as the dedicated oversight body for aquarium management. This initiative will also strengthen collaborative frameworks involving government and local governments, aquariums, experts, and civic organizations. The ministry's marine environmental policy sector assured the commitment to executing policies smoothly so aquariums can effectively establish themselves as centers for marine life conservation and education.