Korea Island Promotion Agency Plays Key Role as Communication Channel for Island Residents

Yeosu Namseom Hosts the 12th On-Site Island Forum

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Korea Island Promotion Institute’s ‘Visiting Island Field Forum’ is effectively serving as a communication channel for island residents.

Since November last year, the Korea Island Promotion Institute has been holding the ‘Visiting Island Field Forum’ monthly, meeting island residents, experts, and local government officials nationwide to listen to various opinions and discover policies and promotion projects.

According to the Korea Island Promotion Institute (KIDI, Director Oh Dongho) on the 7th, the ‘12th Visiting Island Field Forum’ was held at the Yeondo-ri Office in Nam-myeon, Yeosu City.

This forum is the last island field forum of the year and the twelfth forum held by the institute.

The ‘Visiting Island Field Forum’ started in November last year with Jeungdo and Jaeun-do in Sinan, Jeollanam-do (1st), followed by Gijeom and Soak-do in Sinan, Jeollanam-do (2nd) and Wonsan-do in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do (3rd) in February this year; Sandal-do in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do (4th) in April; Geumo-do in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do (5th) in June; Godeok-do in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do (6th) in July; Seonyu-do in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do (7th) in August; Ulleung-do in Gyeongsangbuk-do (8th) and Chuja-do in Jeju (9th) in September; Yokjido in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do (10th) in October; and Jawol-do in Ongjin, Incheon (11th) in November.

The Korea Island Promotion Institute listens to the difficulties of island residents on site to develop practical island policies, while reexamining budgets, laws, and regulations.

The response from island residents is also high. The ‘Visiting Island Field Forum’ is known to be well received as a place where island residents listen to the status of basic local government projects and communicate with related parties.

Through the Ulleung-do island field forum, the Korea Island Promotion Institute considered conducting research on introducing a mandatory regional rotation system for specialists at national and provincial medical centers, and through the Jawol-do forum linked to island specialization projects, it also established an online meeting system.

Yeondo in Yeosu, where the ‘12th Visiting Island Field Forum’ was held, was also selected as the ‘Island of the Month’ by the Korea Island Promotion Institute for December.

Previously, the Korea Island Promotion Institute selected Yeondo as the ‘Island of the Month’ due to twelve resources and legends, including camellias blooming in December, a national park, Sorido Lighthouse (lighthouse cultural heritage), Soryongdan, Daeryongdan, Kogul, fishing, Yeondo mussels, Deokpo premium village, Seobul Gwacha tea, and Solpaengi Cave treasures.

Kim Donggeun, head of Yeondo-ri, said, “On cold winter days, I am grateful that the Korea Island Promotion Institute has brought warmth to the island village, which has always been marginalized, through the ‘Visiting Island Field Forum.’ I hope many people visit Yeondo, selected as the ‘Island of the Month,’ and leave beautiful memories.”

Oh Dongho, director of the Korea Island Promotion Institute, said, “It is very meaningful to hold the last island field forum of the year in Yeondo, the ‘Island of December.’ We will actively support making the ‘Island of the Month’ a desirable place to live and visit, increasing island residents’ income and revitalizing the village economy.”

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