DJ's Hometown Gets 'Yoon Seok-yeol Bridge'... Hopes for National Unity and a Solution to Local Decline

2.2km Yeondo Bridge Connecting Jangsan-do and Ha-ui-do

Planned Completion in 2024, the 100th Anniversary of DJ's Birth

Estimated Cost 280 Billion KRW... Preparation for Requesting Exemption from Preliminary Feasibility Study

A bird's-eye view of the Jangsan-Sinui inter-island bridge construction project promoted by Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do. / Provided by Sinan-gun

[Sinan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters reporters Yoon Jamin and Choi Jaekyung] Sinan-gun, Jeonnam, the hometown of the late former President Kim Dae-jung, known as the "1004 Islands" because it consists of about 1,000 islands.

So far, bridges have been built connecting 14 major islands centered around the Cheonsa Bridge, but a bridge connecting Sinui-do and Jangsan-do, which are still the southern region's center, has not yet been constructed.

Sinan-gun is planning to build a bridge connecting these islands and has attracted attention by expressing the intention to name it the "Yoon Seok-yeol Bridge" after President Yoon Seok-yeol.

If this bridge is built, it will symbolically connect Ha-ui-do, the hometown island of the late President Kim Dae-jung, with the mainland in time for the 100th anniversary of his birth (January 6, 2024), and it is expected to help respond to the crisis of local population decline.

According to Sinan-gun on the 4th, the county is promoting a 2.2 km national road No. 2 island bridge construction project from Dasuri, Jangsan-myeon to Sangtaeseori, Sinui-myeon.

The required construction cost is estimated to be about 280 billion KRW, and preparations are underway to propose it as a project exempt from preliminary feasibility study.

The Jangsan-Sinui island bridge construction project is expected to maximize its effect by being linked with the construction of the Jangsan-Jara island bridge.

During the last presidential election, President Yoon also visited the birthplace of former President Kim Dae-jung and emphasized "the great spirit of national unity succession," mentioning the early promotion of the island bridge project to enable vehicle access to the birthplace.

The county states that once this bridge is completed, a route allowing vehicle travel from Sinan to Busan will be established, which exactly aligns with President Yoon’s emphasis on "national unity."

Moreover, although this region has traditionally been a stronghold of the Democratic Party, there are plans to name the bridge "Yoon Seok-yeol Bridge" to contribute to national unity.

If this bridge is built, Sinan-gun, which is not free from the crisis of local extinction due to population decline like other regions, is also expected to benefit.

After realizing the nation’s first "Renewable Energy Development Profit Sharing System" last year, the county saw a population increase for the first time in a long while.

The population increase in Sinan-gun, which belongs to the high-risk group for aging population and local extinction crisis, is the first in seven years.

Also, it was selected as grade A, the highest rating, in the investment plan evaluation for local extinction response funds for basic local governments hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korea Local Finance Association, accelerating efforts to overcome the extinction crisis.

In this situation, if the Jangsan-Sinui island bridge is built and land transportation becomes smooth, population inflow and tourism business are expected to become more active.

A Sinan-gun official said, "If the bridge can be built in time for the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late President Kim Dae-jung in 2024, it will precisely meet the purpose of national unity," adding, "The plan to name it the 'Yoon Seok-yeol Bridge' reflects the gratitude of local residents to the current government that has helped."

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