The government will sharply increase fines slapped on boats that violate safe navigation rules in the face of growing public awareness for maritime accidents, the maritime ministry said Tuesday.
  

Penalties for not adhering to set rules or disregarding oversight by authorities can lead to a fine of upwards of 10 million won ($8,500) starting on Dec. 23. This is up fivefold from the present 2 million won, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
  

Under the changes, boats and ships that enter South Korean controlled waters that fail to respond to hails or do not listen to orders issued by controllers could be fined a maximum 3 million won.
  

The changes to the country's Maritime Safety Act passed by the Cabinet also outlines making the names and the identification numbers of boats, and the shipping companies that own the vessels involved in serious accidents public every quarter.
  

Serious accidents refer to deaths and people who go missing during a trip, as well as those involved in collisions, sinkings and loss of power that requires the disabled boats to be towed to safety. Large oil spills will also be viewed as a major accident and will be disclosed to the general public.
  

"The goal of the changes is to raise safety-related awareness of crew members and vessel operators, and compel them to be more mindful when operating boats," the ministry said.
  

The latest measures come after the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry in April 2014 off South Korea's southwestern coast that left more than 300 people dead. Most of those that died were high school students on a field trip. (Yonhap)