"Bringing Vitality to the Island..." Residents Lead Island Development

Korea Island Promotion Agency Hosts 'Resident-Led Island Development Best Practices Presentation Contest'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Amid the accelerating countdown to local extinction due to low birth rates and aging populations, a successful case of residents rolling up their sleeves to develop their island has drawn attention.

The Korea Island Development Institute (KIDI, President Oh Dongho) announced on the 12th that it held the ‘3rd Island Day’ commemorative ‘Resident-led Island Development Best Practices Presentation Contest’ at the 2nd-floor conference room of the Gunsan Saemangeum Convention Center (GSCO).

This event was organized to widely share excellent cases of island village community revitalization led directly by residents, aiming to boost the morale of domestic island residents and to achieve job creation, population increase, and income growth in island regions.

On the day, a total of 10 teams from 7 basic local governments nationwide (4 teams from Sinan, and 1 team each from Gunsan, Tongyeong, Geoje, Boryeong, Ulleung, and Goheung) made presentations.

The contest began with the presentation titled ‘The 5-Year Story of Park Santa’s Bigeum Island’ by Park Jongdeok, representative of ‘Surim Village Santa’ from Bigeumdo, Sinan, followed by ▲ ‘The Island of Art, Yeonhongdo’ by Choi Wansook, representative of ‘Yeonhongdo Cooperative’ from Yeonhongdo, Goheung ▲ ‘Attracting the Hyunpo 2-ri Dagachi Workplace Project’ by Kim Youngnam, representative of ‘Pyeongri Village’ from Ulleungdo.

Next were ▲ ‘Morning of Dumido’ by Kim Moonki, representative of ‘Dumido Namgu Village’ from Dumido, Tongyeong ▲ ‘The Past, Present, and Future of Munyeodo’ by Lee Ki-young, representative of ‘Munyeo Village’ from Munyeodo, Gunsan.

Park Jongdeok (Bigeumdo, Sinan), the first presenter, said, “I have been operating a volunteer service for the mobility of disabled people in the island village for five years,” adding, “By filling gaps in beauty and culture, which are especially vulnerable for island residents, I want to gift them not just ordinary days but ‘special days like Christmas.’”

Lee Ki-young (Munyeodo, Gunsan) said, “I am constantly thinking about how Munyeodo should develop in the future,” and mentioned, “As a result, it is expected that residents themselves will operate an auto camping site and promote the expansion of sales channels for fishery products and the revitalization of the 6th industry through the completion of a local food store.”

Oh Dongho, president of the Korea Island Development Institute, said in his greeting, “For ‘sustainable island development,’ the active attitude and participation of island residents are essential,” and added, “Today’s presenters are excellent people who turned crises into opportunities.”

He continued, “I hope that you will continue to develop our islands into more beautiful islands through village community revitalization, job creation, and income projects.”

Through the presentation judging on the day, four final cases will be selected as excellent cases (1 grand prize, 1 top prize, 2 excellence awards). The grand prize (Minister’s Award, 1 million KRW), top prize (Governor of Jeonbuk Award, 700,000 KRW), and excellence awards (Mayor of Gunsan, Korea Island Development Institute President’s Award, 500,000 KRW) will be given commendations along with prize money.

Meanwhile, events commemorating Island Day (August 8) are being held from August 8 to 14 at the Gunsan Saemangeum Convention Center and the Gogunsan Archipelago area. At the same time on the day, the Youth Advisory Group Academy was held in room 201 of Gunsan GSCO under the theme ‘Asking About the Island of Tomorrow: Korean Island Leader Training Program.’