Korea Island Promotion Agency and Gyeongnam Province Sign Agreement for Island Tourism Belt Development
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The ‘Korea Island Promotion Agency South Coast Global Island Research and Education Center’ will be established in the Gyeongnam region.
The Korea Island Promotion Agency plans to achieve regional balanced development, a national goal of creating a ‘local era where anywhere in Korea is a good place to live,’ by operating a global research and education center along with customized education tailored to the characteristics of island areas to resolve regional conflicts and imbalances.
The Korea Island Promotion Agency (Director Oh Dong-ho) announced on the 5th that it signed a business agreement with Gyeongnam Province for the continuous development of local islands and the development of the Gyeongnam Island Tourism Belt.
The signing ceremony was held with the attendance of Director Oh Dong-ho, Gyeongnam Governor Park Wan-su, and officials from both organizations.
This agreement was prepared to continuously develop, preserve, and maintain the value of the South Coast islands.
According to the agreement, a foundation was established to designate and operate the ‘Korea Island Promotion Agency South Coast Global Island Research and Education Center’ in the Gyeongnam region.
It is also expected to gain momentum in fostering island specialists (island tourism, leisure experience, island coordinators) and joint research in connection with universities in the Gyeongnam region.
The main agreement items include ▲ joint promotion of projects for the development of the Gyeongnam Island Tourism Belt ▲ designation and operation of the ‘Korea Island Promotion Agency South Coast Global Island Research and Education Center’ within Gyeongnam Province ▲ fostering island specialists in connection with universities in the Gyeongnam region ▲ promotion of joint cooperation projects such as island-related research and academic conferences.
In addition, both organizations promised to maintain a close cooperative system based on their capabilities and to strive for joint promotion of education, research, consulting, publicity, and island tourism revitalization projects for island development.
Going forward, the two organizations plan to maintain a mutually cooperative relationship while expanding the scope of exchanges and cooperation for island development.
Oh Dong-ho, Director of the Korea Island Promotion Agency, said, “Under the vision of ‘Islands connecting the future, islands going global,’ the goal of the Korea Island Promotion Agency is to become an international island-specialized research institution that opens the future of Korea’s islands.” He added, “Gyeongnam has the largest island population, and by utilizing this human network, we will develop the South Coast islands into a world-class sustainable tourist destination and transform the Hanseomwon Academy into a ‘Global Island Specialized Academy.’”
Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, said, “Gyeongnam has the second largest number of islands in the country, and if linked with projects such as the South Coast international tourism complex development, it is expected to emerge as a global marine tourism hub.” He added, “Cooperation with the Korea Island Promotion Agency, which enhances the value of islands and creates future growth engines, will be a great strength.”
Meanwhile, on October 25, a tripartite business agreement was signed between the Korea Island Promotion Agency, Gyeongnam Province, and Tongyeong City to operate the Hanseomwon Academy Tongyeong Campus.
The ‘Hanseomwon Academy’ is part of an educational project for island area promotion, aiming to raise nationwide interest in islands, discover humanities and ecological resources such as island history, culture, and environment, and cultivate island-specialized leaders and experts.
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