'Island Extinction Response' Three Government-Funded Research Institutes Join Forces

Korea Island Promotion Agency - Rural Economy Institute - Marine Fisheries Development Institute MOU

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Three government-funded research institutes responsible for island, marine, and rural fishing village research, investigation, and policy have joined hands to respond to island extinction.

The Korea Island Promotion Agency (President Oh Dongho) announced on the 17th that it signed a business agreement with the Korea Rural Economic Institute and the Korea Maritime Institute at the fishermen's rest area on Banwoldo Island, Sinan.

The signing ceremony was attended by Oh Dongho, President of the Korea Island Promotion Agency; Kim Hongsang, President of the Korea Rural Economic Institute; Kim Jongdeok, President of the Korea Maritime Institute; Moon Geumju, Vice Governor of Jeonnam Province; and Park Wuryang, Mayor of Sinan County, and was conducted in compliance with COVID-19 quarantine guidelines.

According to this agreement, the three institutions will jointly hold an academic conference on national balanced development strategies, including the issue of island extinction, in May at the Seoul Press Center.

The three institutions responsible for research and management of domestic islands, marine areas, rural, and fishing villages are expected to create great synergy through cooperation in research investigations, academic exchanges, and educational projects.

The event began with the signing ceremony of the business agreement, followed by a report on Sinan County’s selection as the best tourism village, and then trekking on Banwol and Bakjido Islands.

In particular, the event attracted attention as it was held on Sinan Banwol and Bakjido Islands, known as the “Purple Island,” which was selected as the “World’s Best Tourism Village” by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Amid the threat of extinction facing islands and local areas, President Oh Dongho’s intention was to consider and respond together to the extinction of islands and local areas at “Purple Island,” where the three institutions turned the crisis into an opportunity.

President Oh said, “This is a meaningful first official business agreement ceremony for the Promotion Agency, and I would like to once again thank the presidents and staff of the Korea Rural Economic Institute and the Maritime Institute who gathered their opinions together. Through this agreement, we will communicate closely with each institution and work together to consider and respond to issues such as island extinction.”

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