Sinan-gun, Heuksando Sea Route Opens After 5 Days

Blocking the Basic Rights of Citizens: Freedom of Movement, Medical Benefits, and Essential Goods Transport

Snow has accumulated on the circular road of Heuksando, Sinan-gun (Photo by Sinan-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Seo Young-seo] Heuksando, the southwesternmost island of the country, reopened its sea route after 5 days due to a storm warning accompanied by heavy snow and cold waves.

According to Sinan County on the 11th, Heuksando is a natural tourist destination that serves as an advanced base for protecting marine values and maritime sovereignty on the west coast. It takes 7 hours from the Seoul metropolitan area and 2 hours by high-speed ferry from Mokpo, Jeollanam-do.

Heuksando is an area where 2,389 households and 4,059 people have not been supported with basic transportation rights other than passenger ships due to 115 days of annual ship cancellations (including half-day or more cancellations).

From 7 p.m. on the 6th, a storm warning was issued and lasted until 6 a.m. on the 10th, during which the only means of transportation, the sea route, was blocked for 4 days, causing inconvenience such as lack of medical benefits and supply of daily necessities.

From dawn on the 7th, snow removal work on the 25.4 km coastal road around Heuksando was completed early using snow removal vehicles and heavy equipment, allowing vehicle traffic to resume. Snow removal equipment and drinking water were supplied to residents of Gageodo, who were struggling with heavy snow and frozen pipes, actively addressing residents' inconveniences.

Due to more than 26.5 cm of heavy snow over the past 4 days paralyzing the township functions on Heuksando, township staff who gave up their weekend and residents mobilized all available manpower and equipment to carry out snow removal work.

Mr. Lee, a retired public official living in Jinri, showed a warm gesture by providing warm rice cake soup to the Heuksan Township Office staff who worked tirelessly day and night on snow removal work, giving a heartwarming scene.

Choi Myung-nam, head of Heuksan Township, said, “Local residents who suffered from a decrease in tourists due to COVID-19 last year are now unable to secure basic living rights due to the blockade of the sea route, which is regrettable. We will actively listen to the difficulties of the residents on site and reflect them in the township administration.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.