In this paper, we reviewed a case of offshore wind farm development in the United States, which is a latecomer like South Korea, and suggested more efficient ways for developing offshore wind farms and minimizing social, environmental and safety problems. In the United States, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 allowed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to lease and manage offshore wind farms. The Bureau develops offshore wind farms in four stages: planning and analysis, leasing, site evaluation, construction and operation. In addition, Japan is enacting legislation to select areas where marine renewable energy can be produced. In line with the trend toward establishing a systematic offshore wind development process, it is necessary for South Korea to establish legislation that allows the designation of offshore wind farms to promote reasonable and realistic offshore wind development. At the same time, the government must organize an offshore wind task force that selects appropriate sites along with regulators and licensees.