Korea Island Promotion Agency and Japan Ido Center Unite for Island Development

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Korea Island Development Institute (KIDI, President Oh Dongho) has joined forces with the Japan Island Center for sustainable island development both domestically and internationally.

KIDI announced on the 14th that it held an international exchange meeting on the 13th during a visit to the Japan Island Center located in Tokyo.

This meeting marked KIDI's first overseas exchange and was a response to the Island Center's participation in the ‘Island Day’ event (August 8).

At that time, Miki Tsuyoshi, Head of Research at the Island Center, and Saeki Naoki, Research Officer, participated in the ‘3rd Island Day’ event as presenters at the ‘Korea Island Forum International Academic Conference’ and lecturers at the ‘Hanseomwon Academy,’ drawing attention.

The international exchange meeting was attended by about 20 people, including President Oh Dongho of KIDI, officials from KIDI, Park Min-sik, Director of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, and Kojima Ainosuke, Executive Director of the Japan Island Center.

Through the meeting, KIDI and the Japan Island Center confirmed their shared goal of sustainable island development and engaged in various discussions.

Starting next year, they will officially launch cooperative projects. They plan to establish a TFT to activate exchanges and share research outcomes through regular seminars and invitations to international island-related events.

A visit by the Japan Island Center and Japanese island residents to Korea is also planned. KIDI aims to serve as a global hub for island exchanges, connecting domestic island local governments with Japanese island local governments to share and support best practices.

Additionally, both organizations agreed to continuously translate and exchange newsletters and published materials.

Oh Dongho, President of KIDI, said, “Our Korea Island Development Institute is the world’s first research institution established by a government for specialized island research, but it is a newly established institution only one year old.” He added, “In contrast, the Japan Island Center is a specialized island research institution established 55 years earlier than us and has played a leading role in global island research and development.”

He continued, “Combining the Island Center’s information and know-how with our research and investigation technologies is expected to create great synergy contributing to island development,” adding, “We will do our best to slightly improve the living conditions of island residents during the cold season.”

Kojima Ainosuke, Executive Director of the Japan Island Center, responded, “This meeting is very meaningful as it brought together people dedicated to islands from both Korea and Japan,” and said, “We will promote joint projects with KIDI one by one within the possible scope.”

The Japan Island Center, established in 1966, is a specialized island research institution that conducts various research, promotion, and support activities related to remote islands called ‘Nakdo’ (落島) far from the mainland. It was reorganized as a public interest incorporated foundation in 2013.

Meanwhile, KIDI is currently on a five-day trip to Japan from the 12th to the 16th. On the 12th, they visited advanced sites on Hachijojima Island (八丈島) in Tokyo, including the Fisheries Cooperative Women’s Processing Plant (a case of the sixth industrialization of fisheries), Manman Farm (a case of tourism livestock industry), and the Agricultural Officer Training Center (a case of agricultural promotion and training of agricultural practitioners).

On the 13th, they held meetings at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan and the Japan Island Center; on the 14th, meetings with the Japan Island Society and heads of offices of three metropolitan local governments in Japan; on the 15th, a tea meeting with the Iki Mayor; and on the 16th, visits to advanced sites on Ikino-shima Island are scheduled.

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