Korea's marine education level remains at an early stage compared to other countries, and it is also having a hard time giving the right perception and improve the knowledge of the ocean to their students. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of understanding the actual marine perception of Korean elementary, middle and high school students and understanding the current situation of Korean marine education from the students’ perspective.
This paper objectively identified the marine perception of students in elementary, middle and high schools, and also prove the direct influence and contribution of education in changing and improving this perception. Through the research, it is confirmed that the education can change the negative marine perception to the positive perception and strengthen the existing positive perception to further positive perception.
And in the sense that the ocean-related programs currently implemented is experience-oriented play activity, only for arousing interest, so that it is necessary to expand the scope of marine education to make them interested in the other parts of the ocean as well as leisure areas. Therefore, the government should prepare the institutional devices to clarify the scope and vision of marine education and seek ways to effectively deal with marine education in public education.
When the marine education is implemented in the right direction with the consistent and established vision, it is possible to open the gate for students to grow into future marine talents, which will be the first step for Korea to leap into a future marine power.