'Samshisekki' Significantly Reduces Travel Time to Manjaedo

The First Success of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project... Infrastructure Improvement for Marginalized Island Residents

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] Actors Cha Seungwon and Yoo Haejin, who enjoyed a leisurely fishing village life, will see Manjaedo Island undergo significant changes. The boat trip from Sinan, Jeollanam-do, which used to take over 5 hours, will be drastically reduced to 2 hours. This is the first result of the Fishing Village New Deal project aimed at island residents who have been excluded from government support.

On the 22nd, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries held a completion ceremony for the passenger ship docking facility, the first achievement of the 'Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project,' on Manjaedo Island, Heuksan-myeon, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do. About 50 people, including Moon Seonghyeok, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, and village residents, attended the ceremony. A congratulatory video from Cha Seungwon and Yoo Haejin was also screened.

The Fishing Village New Deal project has been carried out since 2019 targeting 300 fishing villages nationwide to improve the deteriorated fishing village environment. It involves not only upgrading old facilities and expanding convenience facilities but also developing tourism products.

Manjaedo Island gained much attention after being featured in the variety show 'Three Meals a Day,' where actors Cha Seungwon and Yoo Haejin experienced fishing village life. The island is located 45 km southwest of Heuksando and currently has 46 households with 80 residents.

Under the Fishing Village New Deal project, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries invested a total of 7.736 billion KRW to build a 40-meter-long passenger ship docking facility and a 53-meter sloped pier on Manjaedo. They also refurbished a fishing gear storage warehouse and a scenic walking trail. Previously, without a passenger ship docking facility, residents and tourists had to transfer to small boats in the middle of the sea to reach Manjaedo, but this project has resolved transportation inconveniences and safety concerns.

With the completion of the docking facility, a direct route between Manjaedo and Mokpo will be established. The boat trip, which used to take 5 hours and 40 minutes by passing through other islands to reach the mainland, is expected to be shortened to 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to build a total of 11 passenger ship docking facilities and install 19 convenience facilities such as waiting rooms and restrooms this year at the nationwide Fishing Village New Deal 300 project sites, including Manjaedo. To support fishing activities, 44 fishing docking facilities will be constructed, and 25 environmental improvement facilities such as fishing gear and net warehouses will be newly built. In fishing villages that suffered significant damage from flooding during typhoons and monsoons, 39 safety facilities such as safety railings and breakwaters will be installed, and 35 resident convenience facilities including village halls and 130 leisure tourism facilities will be completed within the year.