Korea Island Promotion Agency Accelerates Detailed Policy Development for 'Creating Islands Without Discrimination'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Korea Island Development Institute (KIDI, President Oh Dongho), a government-funded research institute, is expanding its communication scope nationwide as it approaches its first anniversary.

With the government setting the national goal of a "local era where anywhere in the Republic of Korea is a good place to live," KIDI is establishing hotlines with local governments across the country to create islands without discrimination and to develop detailed island policies.

KIDI announced on the 22nd that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gyeongbuk Province and Ulleung County at the first-floor conference room of the Ulleung Hanmaeum Hall in Ulleung County.

This agreement is the second MOU signed with local governments nationwide, following the one with Chungnam Province and Boryeong City on July 28.

The signing ceremony was attended by about 30 people, including Oh Dongho, President of KIDI, Nam Hangwon, Ulleung County Governor, Kim Namil, Head of the East Coast Regional Headquarters of Gyeongbuk Province, officials from KIDI, Gyeongbuk Province, and Ulleung County, as well as island residents.

Through the MOU, KIDI, Gyeongbuk Province, and Ulleung County agreed to closely cooperate to preserve the humanities and ecological resources of islands on the East Coast and to promote sustainable island development.

Each institution plans to conduct systematic and comprehensive surveys and research on islands in the East Coast region and jointly explore sustainable development and future-oriented mid- to long-term development plans for the islands.

They also agreed to jointly research development plans to utilize and enhance the value of the ecology, culture, history, and resources of the East Coast islands, and to work together to increase income, improve welfare, and revitalize tourism in island areas.

In addition, they plan to improve living conditions for island residents, implement youth attraction policies, and enhance the vitality of island regions. They will also share domestic and international networks held by each institution through mutual exchanges of academies, joint research on educational programs, and information sharing to promote island development.

Following this agreement, KIDI plans to sequentially sign MOUs with metropolitan and basic local governments with islands, including Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Gyeongnam, Incheon, and Jeju.

Oh Dongho, President of KIDI, said, "Our common goal is to create islands without discrimination that fit the 'local era where everyone enjoys equal opportunities regardless of where they live.' Like the name of this place, 'Ulleung Hanmaeum Hall,' I hope the three institutions will unite with 'one heart, one mind' to build a 'stronger Republic of Korea.'"

Meanwhile, from today until the 24th, KIDI will conduct the "8th On-site Island Forum," a KIDI board meeting, visits to excellent island case sites (Pyeongri Village), and institutional visits in the Ulleungdo and Dokdo areas over four days.

Pyeongri Village is a village that won the grand prize at the resident-led island development excellent case presentation contest held by KIDI on August 8 to commemorate Island Day.

At that time, Kim Youngnam, the representative of Ulleungdo's Pyeongri Village, gave a presentation titled "Attracting the Hyunpo 2-ri Multi-value Workplace Project," which received great response. The resident-led island development excellent case presentation contest featured a total of 10 teams from seven basic local governments nationwide (four teams from Sinan, and one team each from Gunsan, Tongyeong, Geoje, Boryeong, Ulleung, and Goheung).

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