Commemorative photo of the MOU signing | Photo by TOBE Corp.
TOBE Corp. (CEO Lee Young-il), a marine IoT specialist, has signed a strategic MOU with the Korea Fishing Association and Shin-A Corp. to promote the distribution of a ‘Smart Boarding Terminal’ for fishing boats nationwide. The goal is to transform boarding management systems digitally.
This agreement is expected to enhance the safety and efficiency of fishing boat operations through digitalization, creating a significant opportunity to boost the fishing tourism industry.
TOBE plans to supply fingerprint-based Smart Boarding Terminals to fishing boats nationwide. These terminals are integrated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ ‘Nakshihae’ system, streamlining processes for identity verification, departure reporting, and electronic boarding list creation. Additionally, TOBE will offer a 300,000 KRW communication subsidy per fishing boat, reducing installation and operating costs and technical support to ensure smooth system operations.
The Korea Fishing Association, which includes over 5,000 fishing vessels, will assist in distributing the Smart Boarding Terminals, promoting digital transformation across the industry. Shin-A Corp. will handle the sales and installation of the equipment, providing necessary training and technical support for seamless operation. The association’s president expressed optimism: “Fishing boats nationwide will be able to operate more safely and efficiently through this digitalized system.”
This MOU will be key in expanding the current boarding terminal distribution project from Jeollanam-do(Jeonnam) to a national level. TOBE has already been collaborating with the Jeonnam Korea Fishing Association on a pilot program and will now broaden the initiative to fishing boats across the country, enabling safer and more structured operations industry-wide.
The Smart Boarding Terminal is anticipated to improve fishing boat efficiency, offer better service for fishing tourists by reducing boarding wait times, and positively impact the local fishing economy.
Through this MOU, TOBE aims to lead digital transformation in the fishing boat industry and contribute to marine safety networks with various solutions connected to the boarding terminal. The company is also exploring technology expansion to coastal fishing boats beyond fishing vessels alone.
Pangyo Techno Valley is a global integrated R&D hub focused on IT, BT, CT, and NT, integrating Research (R), People (P), Information (I), and Trade (T). As Gyeonggi-do’s representative innovation cluster, Pangyo Techno Valley was established to secure national new growth drivers such as technological innovation, human resource development, job creation, and enhancing international business competitiveness. As of 2023, 1,666 companies employ 78,751 people, and it has positioned itself as the most innovative hub in South Korea, with sales amounting to 167.7 trillion KRW (125.5 billion USD).
Furthermore, the Techno Valley Innovation Division of the Gyeonggi-do Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) holds monthly events such as the Pangyo Evening Meet-Up, Pan-Pan Day, and the Pangyo Startup Investment Exchange “In-Best Pangyo” to maximize the value of Pangyo Techno Valley. They also support the Pangyo Overseas Promotion Program, which publicizes information about Pangyo’s companies, products, and services to domestic and foreign investors and the media, thereby facilitating foreign investment.
