Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam, "Tongyeong Yokjido, a Tourism Hub of the South Coast"

The First Direct Visit Among All Governors to Date

On the 2nd, Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, became the first governor in history to set foot on Yokjido Island in Tongyeong.

According to Gyeongnam Province, Governor Park visited the island in person to devise measures to revitalize tourism on the southern coast islands and to check the progress of ongoing projects.

While traveling by boat to Yokjido, he received reports on the Yokji Island Tourism Revitalization Project, the drinking water source development project, and the construction of the Hansan Battle Bridge, and discussed related matters.

He then inspected key project sites including the Yokji monorail, the drinking water source development site, and the bluefin tuna aquaculture farm.

Gyeongnam Governor Park Wan-su is arriving at Yokjido, Tongyeong, and getting off the boat.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

According to the province, Tongyeong’s Yokjido was once a large-scale golden mackerel fishing ground where the sea market called Pasi (波市) was held year-round. In 1910, a post office and elementary school were established, and a Pasi village with bathhouses, barbershops, shops, and pubs was formed, marking the birthplace of modern fishing villages.

The province announced that starting with Zaburanggae, the birthplace of modern fishing villages, it will remodel the historic modern fishing village alleys of Yokji Island by incorporating retro-style sensibilities as part of the “Yokji Island Tourism Revitalization Project.”

By expanding infrastructure through natural monument forest exploration and the construction of an observatory, and creating themed gardens incorporating elements such as Lee Jung-seop, healing, and veganism, the plan is to rebirth Yokjido as a new tourist attraction.

The project, currently in the basic planning stage, will be concretized and financially supported through government contests and national funding proposals.

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province is inspecting Myeongwolgwan and Anbang Bar Street, the birthplace of the modern fishing village in Yokjido, Tongyeong, and discussing plans to revitalize tourism.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

At the end of last year, the province took steps to fundamentally resolve the chronic drought problem on Yokjido, which suffered from water shortages due to an unusual drought.

With a budget of 33 billion KRW, the province is expanding the dam and implementing a “drinking water source development project” to supply tap water to surrounding islands through an underwater pipeline. The project is scheduled for trial operation in August and completion in October.

To create an attractive island where people want to stay and enjoy, projects such as island beautification for livability, improvement of residential conditions, and support for island-specific projects are also underway.

Support is also provided for improving energy infrastructure in island areas and for operating routes to isolated islands.

Yokji Dodong Port, selected as a target site for the Fisheries Village New Vitality Promotion Project this year, will receive 10 billion KRW over four years to develop tourism, a fisheries village living station, and various workation infrastructures.

Governor Park said, “We will develop Yokjido’s excellent tourism resources such as the modernized fishing village alleys and incorporate experts’ artistic sensibilities to establish it as a tourism hub on the southern coast. We will focus provincial government capabilities on revitalizing island tourism on the southern coast, including Yokjido, and fostering marine tourism such as landmarking the Hansan Battle Bridge crossing the Tongyeong sea, creating an opportunity for Gyeongnam to leap forward.”

He added, “We will ensure that Yokjido residents do not suffer from water supply problems and will steadily push forward with the drinking water development project, including reservoir construction, to resolve the issue promptly.”

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