Sinan County Holds '2026 ISISA World Island Academic Conference Pre-Conference'

Sinan County, South Jeolla Province, announced on May 26 that it had successfully held the '2026 ISISA World Island Academic Conference Pre-Conference' on May 23.

This event was organized to ensure the successful preparation of the ISISA World Island Academic Conference, which is scheduled to be held in Sinan County in 2026. More than 20 island experts from both Korea and abroad attended, engaging in in-depth presentations and discussions.

ISISA (International Small Islands Studies Association) is an international federation for island research established in 1986. Currently, it has about 5,000 members from approximately 100 countries, and it has been leading research and policy development in various fields related to islands.

On the 23rd, a commemorative photo was taken at the opening ceremony of the '2026 ISISA World Island Academic Conference Pre-Conference.' Provided by Sinan County

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This pre-conference was co-hosted by Sinan County and the 2026 World Island Academic Conference Organizing Committee, organized by the Island Culture Research Institute at Mokpo National University, and sponsored by the Korea Islands Foundation.

Under the theme of 'Island Communities and Island Studies,' a total of six presentations were given at the event. In the first session, Dr. Laurie Brinklow (Professor at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and President of ISISA) presented 'Islands and Accessibility: The Bridge Effect'; Prof. Anica cuk (Professor at the University of Zadar, Croatia) presented 'Driving Forces for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals'; and Park Seonguk (Team Leader of the Solar Power Division at Sinan County Office) presented 'Sinan County's Development Profit Sharing System.'

In the second session, Dr. Adam Grydehøj (Professor at South China University of Technology, China, and ISISA Executive) presented 'The Promise of Island Studies: Practical and Meaningful Island Research'; Dr. Sarah Nimfuhr (Vice President of ISISA) presented 'Islands and Collective Identity'; and Kim Jaeun (Academic Research Professor at the Island Culture Research Institute, Mokpo National University) presented 'The Spatiotemporal Development of Sinan County.' These diverse case studies and policy proposals on island research received strong responses from the participants.

In the latter part of the event, a comprehensive discussion and Q&A session were held, allowing for in-depth exploration of the presentation topics and active exchanges of opinions between presenters and attendees.

Kim Daein, Acting County Governor, stated, "Sinan County has long cooperated domestically and internationally to preserve island ecology and culture and to promote sustainable island development. Taking this pre-conference as an opportunity, we will strive to successfully host next year's main academic conference and, through continued exchanges with the international community, to establish Sinan as a central hub for island research."

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