Jeollanam-do Makes All-Out Effort to Secure Evidence to Protect Sasu-do in Disputed Waters Between Wando and Jeju

Multiple Historical Maps Secured to Prove Wando-gun's Jurisdiction
Legal Procedures Initiated to Win Jurisdictional Dispute

Jeollanam-do announced that it is making every effort to secure evidence and respond legally in order to win the ongoing jurisdictional dispute lawsuit over the maritime boundary with Jeju-do and to protect the waters near Sasu-do, which are the subject of the dispute.

According to Jeollanam-do on October 1, the ongoing jurisdictional dispute lawsuit began when Jeju-do filed a petition with the Constitutional Court, claiming infringement of its jurisdiction after Jeollanam-do (Wando-gun) approved a permit for the installation and use of a wind measurement device in the shared waters near Sasu-do.

Jeollanam-do has secured a number of documents, including the Joseon Governor-General's topographic map (1918), the Postal Map (1959), the Korean Navigational Aids Distribution Map (1959), the Complete Map of the Republic of Korea (1960), the Korean Industrial Map (1974), the Complete Map of Korea (1976), coastal composite fishery permits, and fishery fact confirmation documents, all showing that the waters near Sasu-do fall under the jurisdiction of Wando-gun. The province pointed out that the claim that the disputed waters belong to Jeju-do is not true.

Jeollanam-do also countered that, according to Constitutional Court precedents, for a maritime boundary to be recognized on the national base map, administrative agencies must have repeatedly exercised jurisdiction over a long period of time by issuing permits and other administrative dispositions from the past to the present.

Despite the ongoing jurisdictional dispute in the Constitutional Court, Jeollanam-do regards it as highly inappropriate that Jeju-do and Jeju Energy Corporation are pushing ahead with the Chuja offshore wind power project near Sasu-do without prior consultation with Jeollanam-do. Together with Wando-gun and Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do has sent four official letters requesting a halt to the project.

As the offshore wind power project in Chuja is expected to infringe on its jurisdiction, Jeollanam-do and Wando-gun plan to file a jurisdictional dispute petition against Jeju-do and are currently reviewing relevant laws.

Park Geunsik, Director of Maritime Affairs and Ports at Jeollanam-do, stated, "We will do our utmost to win this jurisdictional dispute and protect Jeollanam-do's authority over the waters near Sasu-do, as well as safeguard the rights and interests of our residents."

Meanwhile, Jeju-do is arguing that the waters near Sasu-do fall under its jurisdiction, citing the Joseon Governor-General's Land Survey Department topographic map (1920) and the National Geographic Information Institute's national base map (1970) as evidence.

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