Geumo Island, Sado, and Seodo...
Up to 5 Billion Won in Support for Each Island
"Expected to Contribute to the Successful Hosting of the 2026 World Island Expo"
Yeosu City in South Jeolla Province (Mayor Jung Kimyung) announced that three islands?Jangji on Geumo Island in Nam-myeon, Sado in Hwajeong-myeon, and Deokchon in Seodo, Samsan-myeon?have been selected in the '2026 Island Region Specialization Project' competition organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
This competition targeted islands in 188 special situation regions nationwide. Through a two-stage process consisting of a document review and on-site evaluation to select the first-phase project sites, a total of four islands were finally chosen. Of these, three are located in Yeosu, marking a significant achievement for the city.
Three islands, Jangji on Geumo Island in Nam-myeon, Sado in Hwajeong-myeon, and Deokchon in Seodo, Samsan-myeon, were selected in the '2026 Island Region Specialization Project' competition organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Provided by Yeosu City
Starting next year, each selected island will receive 400 million won over a two-year period. The project will be implemented in phases and includes resident-led content development, the establishment of infrastructure to discover and expand core village businesses, and education and consulting to strengthen residents' self-reliance capabilities.
The city has systematically prepared for the project, including conducting a preliminary survey to identify new candidate sites for the island region specialization project. As a result, beginning with Hwataedo and Ando in Nam-myeon in 2023, a total of 12 islands (five in Nam-myeon, three in Hwajeong-myeon, three in Samsan-myeon, and one in Myododong) have been selected as project sites through this competition as of this year.
The 'Island Region Specialization Project' supports the creation of sustainable island communities by encouraging residents to voluntarily form organizations, commercialize local resources, and develop them into tourism assets, thereby creating jobs and income. Depending on project performance, each island can receive up to 5 billion won over a maximum period of nine years.
A city official stated, "The selection for this specialization project will serve as an important opportunity to expand infrastructure and strengthen resident capabilities in island regions," adding, "We expect it will also contribute to the successful hosting of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo by fostering sustainable island development."
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