BACKGROUND:
Australia recorded 154 coastal drownings with approximately 8,200 rescues in 2024/2025. Approximately, 30% of the drowning victims were born overseas. Japanese tourists and South Koreans migrants and visitors are found to be overrepresented in these figures. Multiple safety strategies aim to prevent these incidents; this study explores Japanese and South Koreans’ understanding of Australian beach safety signs and identifies ways to improve signage. Research

METHODS:
This study utilised an online survey consisting of closed and open questions relating to demographics, intended behaviours at beaches and interpretation of signage. 152 university students studying in Japan and163 in South Korea participated in this study. The statistical data were analysed, using descriptive analysis in SPSS, and the textual data were analysed using deductive code analysis in NVivo.

RESULTS:
Only about 21% of the Japanese and 14% of the South Korean interpreted the red and yellow safety flags as indicating a safety zone, while about 60% of Japanese and 70% of South Korean thought they indicated a danger zone. The majority of both groups did not understand the signage terms including rip currents, and the Japanese and Korean translation of rip currents. Over 90% of the South Korean indicated they would not enter the water when seeing the dangerous current sign, but the presence of other people in the water encouraged about half of participants to go into the water. All red-coloured signs denoting no swimming were equally perceived as a higher hazard, while a yellow sign, despite the message, beach closed, and dangerous current were perceived as lower. Implications: Based on these findings and further examination of translation issues, this study proposes how signage terms in English could be revised for better translatability, while suggesting that red colours should be included on signage to indicate greater hazard.