Korea Floating Wind (KF Wind) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 14 with the Ulsan Fisheries Cooperative to promote the harmonious coexistence of floating offshore wind development and local fisheries. The signing ceremony was held at KF Wind’s office in Nam-gu, Ulsan.

The ceremony was attended by Si-hwan Oh, Chairman of the Ulsan Fisheries Cooperative, along with Austin Park, Project Director at KF Wind among other representatives from both organizations. Participants exchanged views on future cooperation and discussed practical measures to promote sustainable coexistence with the local community throughout the development process.

KF Wind is currently developing the KFW 1, KFW 2, and East Blue Power (EBP) floating offshore wind projects in Korea’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 80 kilometers off the coast of Ulsan. Through this MOU, KF Wind and the Ulsan Fisheries Cooperative will work together to develop sustainable coexistence programs that take into account the rights and livelihoods of local fishing communities during the project development period, while jointly enhancing overall project stability and facilitating the smooth and timely execution of key activities across all stages of floating offshore wind development.

Austin Park, Project Director at KF Wind, stated, “This agreement with the Ulsan Fisheries Cooperative, which represents local fishing communities, will serve as an important foundation for offshore wind development and local fisheries to coexist harmoniously, based on mutual understanding and communication. KF Wind will continue to respect the rights of fishermen and pursue sustainable floating offshore wind development that grows together with the local community.”

Si-hwan Oh, Chairman of the Ulsan Fisheries Cooperative, commented, “For floating offshore wind development to move forward in a positive direction for the local community, it is essential that the perspectives and voices of fishermen on the ground are fully reflected. We hope that this agreement will lead to a practical cooperation model in which local fisheries and the offshore wind industry can coexist.”

Meanwhile, KF Wind has continued its efforts to review, from multiple perspectives, the impacts of offshore wind development on the local community through ongoing communication with local fishing communities, and to identify sustainable development approaches that enable offshore wind and fisheries to coexist.