For industrial nations like South Korea, the stakes are high as increasing competition among populous Asian countries for dwindling resources presents a very serious threat to economic stability and national security. As a member of the Group of 20 and a technological and economic leader in the world, South Korea has an opportunity to lead the way in Asia as a steward of ocean resources and an innovator in conservation and management. From practicing sustainable aquaculture to effective fisheries reform that advocates science-based quotas and the elimination of shark finning, South Korea has an opportunity to pioneer solutions to the fisheries crisis. With respect to coral reefs and other threatened marine ecosystems, South Korea could continue to innovate and export, through foreign assistance and consulting, best practices in coastal development and the establishment and enforcement of effective marine protected areas.