Former Ulleung County Council Chairman Jeong Seonghwan Stages Solo Protest Urging Resolution of Passenger Ship Issues

Seonghwan Jeong, former chairman of the Ulleung County Council, has launched a solo protest to urge a resolution to the passenger ship issue, as residents and tourists have been experiencing significant inconvenience due to a series of engine failures on passenger ships in recent days.

Seonghwan Jeong, former chairman of the Ulleung County Council, is holding a solo protest to urge the resolution of the passenger ship issue. Photo provided by a reader

Jeong explained, "Service on the Eldorado Express, which operates between Ulleung and Pohang, has been suspended since April 5 due to an engine failure, and even the replacement vessel, the Sunrise, has also been unable to operate because of its own mechanical issues. As a result, it has become extremely difficult to secure ferry tickets on weekends, causing major inconvenience for residents and tourists traveling between Ulleungdo and the mainland."
He continued, "To make matters worse, there is now news that the passenger ship operating between Ulleung and Gangneung will no longer be permitted to dock at Gangneung (Anmok) Port after June 14, when the current permit expires. This has only heightened the anxiety of Ulleung residents. Unless the passenger ship service is stabilized, the local economy will inevitably collapse," he appealed.
He further stated, "The fundamental solution is for the central and provincial governments to quickly secure funding and implement off-season and year-round (weekday) discount policies, which would enable both the shipping companies and Ulleung County to thrive together. To resolve this issue, I will devote my utmost efforts to appealing to the candidates in the 21st presidential election at key locations such as Dodong Samgeori and the passenger ship terminal," expressing his determination as he began his solo protest.