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Surfing while under the influence of alcohol will be legally banned in Korea starting June 2025.

According to the Korean Coast Guard, the revised law of water-related leisure activities will come into force on June 21 next year to prohibit drunk people from riding water leisure crafts such as a surfboard or a kayak. Currently, only motorized ones like jet skis are banned.

Under the new rule, a person who is found to have ridden a surfboard while drunk — a blood alcohol content of 0.03 percent or higher — will be subject to a fine of up to 1 million won ($685). Those who refuse a sobriety test can also be fined 1 million won.

The Coast Guard pushed for the revision amid a rise in accidents involving drunk riders.

"With the revision of the law, we will continue to identify unreasonable rules with regard to public safety and strengthen penalties realistically," Kim Jong-wook, head of the Coast Guard, said.

Experts say drinking alcohol before surfing or kayaking could increase the risk of accidents as it numbs the senses and negatively affects the rider's judgment and reaction time.