Seeking Response and Development Strategies for the 'Island in Crisis'... Successful Conclusion of the Korea Island Forum

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The first Korea Island Forum was successfully held under the theme of ‘New Government’s Regional Balanced Development Policy and Sustainable Island Development Strategy.’

The Korea Island Development Institute (KIDI, President Oh Dongho) announced on the 25th that it held the ‘1st Korea Island Forum’ at the Korea Press Center in Seoul together with the Korea Rural Economic Institute and the Korea Maritime Institute.

The ‘1st Korea Island Forum’ is significant as a joint forum where three national research institutes studying islands, seas, and rural fishing villages joined hands to seek measures for regional balanced development and responses to local extinction, amid the new government presenting ‘A Local Era Where It Is Good to Live Anywhere in the Republic of Korea’ as one of its six major national tasks.

About 100 people attended the forum, including Han Changseop, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; National Assembly member Bae Junyoung (Incheon Jung-gu, Ganghwa-gun, Ongjin-gun); Kim Hongsang, President of the Korea Rural Economic Institute; Kim Jongdeok, President of the Korea Maritime Institute; Oh Junggeun, Secretary Member of the Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development of the Presidential Transition Committee; as well as experts from local governments, related organizations, and academia.

Online live streaming was also conducted through the official YouTube channel of the Korea Island Development Institute (‘KIDI TV’).

The forum explored ▲ improvements to the comprehensive island development plan and sustainable island development measures ▲ the reality of the risk of local extinction in island fishing villages and preemptive response strategies ▲ practical cases of balanced development in rural and fishing villages and implications for island regional development.

Han Changseop, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, “The new government emphasizes regional balanced development more advanced than previous governments, led by three core values: fairness, autonomy, and hope,” adding, “The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will promote regional balanced development tailored to the conditions of each region in line with this government policy direction.”

He also emphasized, “While striving to create sustainable islands, we will communicate with residents and grant autonomy to regions to enhance the islands’ self-sustainability,” and “We will work together with everyone so that islands no longer disappear and can be reborn as more valuable territories.”

Oh Dongho, President of the Korea Island Development Institute, said, “It is very meaningful to be able to bloom a beautiful new flower called the ‘Korea Island Forum’ together with the Korea Rural Economic Institute and the Korea Maritime Institute at the end of spring,” adding, “We will develop it into the ‘world’s best global forum’ on islands and seas through substantial collaboration and systematic preparation in the future.”

He continued, “Islands should no longer be a symbol of regional extinction,” and “Islands and seas are the last remaining treasures and our new hope. We will do our best to make the ‘Korea Island Forum,’ which takes its first step today, a ‘lighthouse opening the great voyage era of islands.’”

Kim Hongsang, President of the Korea Rural Economic Institute, said, “This forum is an opportunity to find possibilities and measures for balanced development of the entire national territory beyond island areas,” adding, “I hope the presentations and discussions at the forum will become a driving force to improve the quality of life in rural and fishing villages and lead balanced national land development based on urban-rural coexistence.”

Kim Jongdeok, President of the Korea Maritime Institute, also emphasized, “Islands are no longer neglected outskirts or the edges of the national territory but the starting point of our territory and a ‘barometer’ representing national maritime power,” adding, “I hope today’s event will be an important turning point.”

Earlier, in March, the Korea Island Development Institute signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Rural Economic Institute and the Korea Maritime Institute at Purple Island (Banwol and Bakji Islands) in Sinan-gun. This forum can be considered the first fruit of the cooperation among the three institutions.

Meanwhile, the keynote speech was delivered by Oh Junggeun, former Secretary Member of the Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development of the Presidential Transition Committee; the thematic presentations were given by Kim Namhee, Head of Policy Research Office at the Korea Island Development Institute; Park Sangwoo, Head of the Fishing Village Research Department at the Korea Maritime Institute; and Shim Jaehun, Head of the Quality of Life Policy Research Center at the Korea Rural Economic Institute.

In the designated discussion chaired by Professor Kang Bongryong of Mokpo National University, discussants included Lee Woonggyu, President of the Korean Society for Island Studies; Kim Kwangyong, Regional Development Policy Officer at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Professor Lee Youngsung of Seoul National University; Oh Hyungeun, CEO of Regional Revitalization Center Co., Ltd.; Professor Kim Hyangja of the University of Seoul; and Professor Shin Soonho of Mokpo National University.