The purpose of this paper is to analyze factors affecting the net income of regional and industrial fisheries cooperatives in South Korea using panel data. This paper utilizes linear or GLS regression models such as pooled OLS model, fixed effects model, and random effects model to estimate affecting factors of the net income of regional and industrial fisheries cooperatives. After reviewing various tests, we eventually select random effects model. The results, based on panel data between 2013 and 2018 year and 64 fisheries cooperatives, indicate that capital and area dummy variables have positive effects and employment has negative effect on the net income of regional and industrial fisheries cooperatives as predicted. However, debt are opposite with our predictions. Specifically, it turns out that debt has positive effect on the net income of regional and industrial fisheries cooperatives although it has been increased. Additionally, this paper shows that the member of confreres does not show any significant effect on the net income of regional and industrial fisheries cooperatives in South Korea. This study is significant in that it analyzes the major factors influencing changes in the net income that have not been conducted recently for the fisheries cooperatives by region and industry.

The primary purpose of this paper is to introduce the cases of fishery co-management, particularly in Korea. In recent, the fishery co-management between the government and fishermen has been brought an important shift of paradigm in a part of Korean fishery management policy. In case of Korea fisheries area, three fisheries cooperatives(which refer to purse sein fishery, trawl fishery, stow net fishery) have a minority of co-management programs. Generally, the main method of fishery co-management programs is ‘Fishery Closures’ among the programs, and others are restriction of fishing gear and fishermen educations. In spite of the efforts and time consumes of Korean government and fisheries cooperatives, much to our regret that it is hard to confirm visible results in an increased amount of fisheries resources so far because of the time constraint, namely fishery co-management programs have been conducted just since two to three years before. However, what’s certain is that fishery co-management programs make it possible to positively effect on both of area in fishermen and fisheries resources. Accordingly, it is necessary that Korean government and fishermen should extend the fishery co-management to other fishery areas as soon as possible we can in order to efficiently reduce administrative costs and effectively reserve fisheries resources.

This study aims to examine factors affecting the seafood processing business of primary cooperatives. For this purpose, I divided primary cooperatives that participate to seafood processing business into three group by sales scale. And then analyzed survey results for the four items that might be affecting the seafood processing business, type of seafood processing methods, HACCP certification status, distribution channels, processing difficulties during project implementation, etc. The result offers four implications. First, It is desirable to reduce the burden of the initial investment by leveraging the consignment process at the initial entry to seafood processing business. Second, HACCP certification is essential factor in order to promote seafood processing business as a long-term economic business. Third, To the steady growth of the seafood processing business, it is important to secure fixed large customers, as well as a individual customer. Fourth, For the continued growth of the seafood processing business it should be approached differently by way of sales, when the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives support to primary cooperatives.

Though the debate of the establishment time, place and characteristic of the first fisheries cooperatives in Korea has been existed, it is clear that they had been established in the neighborhood of Tongyeong during the period of Japanese colonial rule. But the objective, motive and historical background of the first fisheries cooperatives are still slightly vague. To explain and explore that of fisheries cooperatives, over 1,000 articles of media, about 100 document of the Japanese government-general of Korea and the annals of the Joseon dynasty, many of research paper and others were included and refined. Through the result of that process, three core factors were founded that affect both the emergence of fisheries cooperatives and relationship of the them. The first one is about the royal family’s fishing area where in the neighborhood of Tongyeong. The next one is Kentaro Kashii who was called king or devil of the Korean fisheries industry and the last one is fishermen and their organizations including fisheries cooperatives. Some of the above and the fishing rights conflict that make a guidance for understanding them has not been clearly mentioned. The result of this study shows that the birth of the first fisheries cooperatives were caused by not only the Japanese government-general of Korea but mainly Korean fishermen’s voluntary activity and free will against fishing rights conflict between them. And both of the first fisheries cooperatives had somewhat difference in their constitution of organization and their characteristics but it was a tragic irony that the more exploitation and despoliation were conducted by Japanese government-general and Japanese capitalist the more movement and activity of Korean were frequently and severely occurred. Even though the findings and results of this study would be a proof and helpful material for understanding the establishment and their activity of fisheries cooperatives in Tongyeong, more research and contribution would be need by members of fisheries academic and business world.