Skip to content
sustainable-living — Climate-change — Industry — Health — Business — Home-and-garden — Science — Lifestyle — International — Government

Woman spearheads sea recuperation endeavor on Jeju Island, aiming to restore ailing marine life.

Ocean waste diver Byeon Su-bin, a previous museum curator, has retrieved 123 metric tons of trash from Jeju's waters. Recent discoveries point to a significant increase in medical waste, sparking demands for international intervention to preserve marine environments.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
Ocean waste diver and ex-museum curator Byeon Su-bin from Jeju, has excavated close to 123 metric...
Ocean waste diver and ex-museum curator Byeon Su-bin from Jeju, has excavated close to 123 metric tons of litter from local water bodies. The recent discoveries unveil an alarming spike in medical waste, inciting demands for worldwide intervention to safeguard marine life.

Woman spearheads sea recuperation endeavor on Jeju Island, aiming to restore ailing marine life.

Article Rewrite

Byeon Su-bin, a 35-year-old force to be reckoned with, stands victorious with armfuls of marine debris gathered from Jeju Island's shores in 2024, marking her as a leading figure in combating ocean pollution, specifically medical waste, in South Korea [BYUN SU-BIN]. Her efforts with Diphda Jeju have resulted in over 123 metric tons of trash removal since its inception seven years prior.

This dedicated eco-warrior spends her days diving for trash and raising awareness about the concerns of marine contamination [1]. What sets Byeon's work apart is her focus on medical waste, a highly toxic pollutant. In the first half of 2025, Byeon and her team conducted 73 dives at 19 different locations along Jeju's coast, collecting 20 tons of waste [1]. Remarkably, their haul included 54 hypodermic needles, 260 medication bottles, and 155 items related to pharmaceuticals [1].

Beyond simply cleaning up Jeju’s waters, Byeon Su-bin is actively engaged in environmental advocacy and education. For example, she gave a presentation on reducing plastic production during a forum held on World Environment Day (June 5, 2025) [1][2]. Byeon's work influences Jeju's marine environment directly while contributing to larger movements aiming to diminish plastic waste and toxic pollutants.

In essence, Byeon Su-bin's extensive marine clean-up initiatives with Diphda Jeju have made a considerable impact on Jeju's recovering seas, focusing on hazardous medical waste pollution reduction, while simultaneously fostering public discourse and action promoting a plastic-free future.

Enrichment Data:Byeon Su-bin, the 35-year-old founder of Diphda Jeju, has, for over seven years, spearheaded cleanup efforts pertaining to marine waste near Jeju Island, South Korea. Over the course of her work, Byeon has personally overseen the removal of more than 123 metric tons of waste from the waters surrounding the island. Her commitment to this cause has been so unwavering that she spends her workdays immersed in the water, collecting trash and promoting awareness about marine pollution.

By focusing on medical waste, a particularly harmful pollutant, Byeon and her team collected goods ranging from 54 hypodermic needles and 260 medication bottles to 155 items related to pharmaceuticals during their 73 dives at 19 separate sites along Jeju's coast from January to May 2025 [1]. This alarming data highlights the prevalence and severity of medical waste contamination in Jeju's waters.

Beyond merely cleaning up the mess, Byeon actively participates in environmental advocacy and education. A testament to this is her presentation on reducing plastic production during the World Environment Day forum on June 5, 2025 [1][2]. Her tireless work serves both the direct restoration of Jeju's marine ecosystem and the broader mission to curtail plastic waste and toxic pollutants around the world.

  1. The government could collaborate with Byeon Su-bin, the founder of Diphda Jeju, to establish more stringent regulations for medical waste disposal, promoting a healthier environment in South Korea and beyond.
  2. The international industry and business communities should consider the impact of their waste on the environment, particularly marine ecosystems, and implement sustainable practices, as demonstrated by Byeon's work in combating medical waste pollution.
  3. Scientific research in environmental science can help identify the long-term impacts of sustained medical waste pollution on climate-change and the overall health of oceanic life, with Byeon's efforts serving as a practical case study.
  4. Byeon Su-bin's work in Jeju Island is not only beneficial for the local marine environment but also serves as an example for home-and-garden enthusiasts embracing sustainable living, reducing plastic use, and adopting eco-friendly habits at home.
  5. Governments worldwide could follow Byeon Su-bin's lead in fighting ocean pollution, addressing the growing concern of climate-change and preserving the sustainability of future lifestyles and generations.
  6. The education sector should encourage students to learn about environmental science and sustainable living, inspiring the next generation to become leaders like Byeon Su-bin, who are dedicated to ensuring a healthy planet for all.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest