Jeonnam Province to Improve Island Settlement Conditions and Strengthen Marine Leisure Tourism Competitiveness

56 Projects in Island, Fishing Village, and Marine Tourism Policy Sectors
3.08 Billion Won Allocated, Focusing on Facility Improvements
Securing Future Growth Engines with the Yeosu World Island Expo and More

Aerial view of Seomang Port. Provided by Jeonnam Province

The living environment on islands and in fishing villages in the Jeonnam region is expected to see significant improvement.

On January 10, Jeonnam Province announced plans to invest a total of 308 billion won this year in 56 projects related to islands, fishing villages, and marine tourism. The province aims to improve living conditions on the islands, revitalize the fishing village economy, and further enhance the competitiveness of marine leisure tourism.

This represents an increase of 52.4 billion won (21%) compared to last year. Leveraging its regional strengths of having the most islands and the longest coastline in the country, the province plans to focus its policy efforts on transforming islands and fishing villages from mere living spaces into marine tourism assets where people want to stay and revisit.

Key initiatives include the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, the Eobok Bus, development projects for special situation areas, development of growth promotion areas, the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project, local fishing port maintenance, the integrated marine leisure tourism city, the Namhae Cup International Yacht Race, beach management, and the International Youth Island Work Camp.

For island regions, 29 projects totaling 183.2 billion won, including the growth promotion area development project, will focus on expanding living infrastructure and improving settlement conditions.

Plans include improving basic living conditions through projects such as establishing LPG facilities in island villages and preventing depopulation of small islands. The province will also expand practical, resident-focused policies to build a sustainable foundation for settlement in island areas.

Additionally, the province will promote the Fishing Village Welfare Bus project as a flagship livelihood initiative for island regions. The Eobok Bus program, targeting island residents who face transportation challenges in accessing hospitals, will provide telemedicine services at community centers and senior centers, along with integrated prescription and delivery services, significantly improving healthcare accessibility for islanders.

The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, scheduled to run for two months starting September 5, has been designated as the top priority for this year’s island and marine policy. The province is preparing this event not just as a simple exhibition, but as an international event that will showcase the value and future vision of Jeonnam’s islands.

The province plans to develop concrete exhibition and experience content centered around the expo venue, attract both domestic and international visitors, create landmarks and themed island zones, and ensure the establishment of island tourism assets that can be utilized even after the expo concludes.

The government’s official event, the 7th Island Day, will be linked as a pre-expo promotional event. The province also plans to broaden public understanding of islands through the International Youth Island Work Camp, resident education, and private sector participation programs.

Jeonnam Province will continue to promote the expo and the appeal of its islands through the production of both online and offline promotional content and by operating SNS channels.

In the fishing village sector, 15 projects totaling 111.5 billion won will be carried out, focusing on the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project. The province will implement phased fishing port development tailored to each village, maintain local fishing ports, expand safety facilities, and renovate aging ports to comprehensively strengthen both the fishing industry infrastructure and living infrastructure.

In the marine leisure tourism sector, 12 projects totaling 13.3 billion won will transform Jeonnam’s seas into destinations for “enjoyable and extended-stay tourism.”

The Namhae Cup International Yacht Race will be expanded in scale in connection with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s public contest, which was selected on December 31 last year. In Boseong, a marine complex center will be established to enable year-round marine leisure activities, developing marine tourism into a four-season, stay-type, and everyday tourism industry rather than one limited to certain seasons or events.

Park Taegeon, Director of Island and Marine Policy at Jeonnam Province, stated, “The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo is a mega event that highlights the value and development potential of islands. Alongside preparations for the expo, we will steadily implement policies for islands, fishing villages, and marine tourism to foster Jeonnam’s islands and seas as future growth engines.”

In December last year, Jeonnam Province was finally selected for the “Integrated Marine Leisure Tourism City Development Project” public contest. The province will create a marine tourism hub in the Yeosu area with a total investment of 1.098 trillion won.

By establishing basic and implementation plans in 2026, the project will be fully launched, aiming not only to enhance the competitiveness of Jeonnam’s marine tourism but also to become a key hub driving the growth of marine tourism in the southern coastal region.