Environmental problems occurring on land and at sea in coastal areas are primarily caused by waste from household and industrial activity. Measures to solve these problems must be drawn up and implemented urgently. In doing so, I propose the construction of an "eco-platform" whose aim is to form a recycling-based community that deals with coastal environmental issues in a comprehensive manner.

The findings of the Third Inquiry Commission on Administrative Reform dealt with the regulation of floating structures such as passenger ships moored in waterfront areas. These findings, in a response to "reform of vertically divided administration," stated, "the regulation of floating structures presents a problem of overlapping jurisdiction between the Ministry of Transport, which deals with safety regulations covering ships and harbor facilities, and the Ministry of Construction and Fire and Disaster Management Agency, which regulate building safety. Coordination is required with respect to the consistency of technical standards and the efficient conduct of inspections." After the reform of central ministries and agencies, these issues have become ministry-internal matters.

Today scheduled marine transportation between Japan and South Korea is overwhelmingly controlled by South Korean marine transportation companies. In cargo shipping, with the exception of the Japanese coast, the Sea of Japan might better be called the "Sea of Korea." South Korea was able to occupy this commanding position in marine transportation between the two countries because of Japan's laissez-fair approach.