Korea celebrates 5th Island Day in Boryeong
Vice Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong, front row center, poses with participants at an exhibition hall on the first day of Island Day in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of the Interior and Safety
BORYEONG, South Chungcheong Province — Korea has 3,383 islands, with 473 inhabited and 2,910 uninhabited. Of the country’s 51.7 million population, approximately 1.48 million live on these islands, including about 670,000 on Jeju, the largest island in the south.
As a nation bordered by the sea on three sides, Korea’s strategic interest in these islands is growing in areas such as territorial defense, resources, ecology, environment and tourism.
However, many islands in rural regions face challenges such as demographic decline and underdevelopment due to a lack of systematic and comprehensive management plans.
To raise public awareness of the importance and value of its islands, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety designated Aug. 8 as Island Day in 2019. Since then, annual events have been held to commemorate this day, with this year’s celebration taking place in Boryeong City, South Chungcheong Province.
Located along Korea’s western coast and known for its beautiful beaches and an annual mud festival, Boryeong is home to around 100,000 residents and approximately 70 islands and islets, 16 of which are inhabited.
The city also boasts the nation's longest undersea tunnel, stretching 6,927 meters and linking Wonsan Island to the mainland.
Island Day kicked off on Thursday for a four-day run, featuring various activities at Daecheon Beach, including mudflat experiences, clam catching, exhibition halls and quiz sessions about Korea's islands.
Visitors also got a chance to purchase local specialties from Boryeong. Additionally, a random gift event was held for those who visited all five of the city’s major islands — Wonsan, Sapsi, Godae, Janggo, and Hyoja — during the festival.
"Our country, with 3,400 islands, is one of the top 10 island nations in the world. We will strive to enhance the value of our precious islands and ensure the happiness of the 800,000 island residents across the nation," said Interior Vice Minister Ko Ki-dong during the opening ceremony on Thursday.
Visitors take part in Island Day on Daecheon Beach, Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, Friday. Korea Times photo by Lee Hyo-jin
According to organizers, this year’s Island Day is the largest yet, as previous events were scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic or typhoons.
On Friday, a forum was held to explore strategies for island development, with government officials, local and overseas experts and lawmakers gathering in the coastal city.
Under the theme "Strategies for Global Development of Island Tourism," the event provided a platform to discuss ways to improve accessibility and quality of life on islands and to promote them as global tourist destinations.
"Islands face various challenges due to relatively low accessibility and quality of life compared to the mainland. Now is the time to bring a wind of change for islands, and I hope today’s event will help us gather opinions on how to make our islands global tourist destinations," said Oh Dong-ho, head of the Korea Island Development Institute, in his congratulatory remarks at the forum.
Boryeong City Mayor Kim Dong-il added, "Islands are the valuable assets of our nation, with their culture, history and natural beauty well preserved. Island residents have long developed their unique culture and way of living. I hope this event will provide momentum for all of us to shed light on the value of these islands."
On the last day of the event, Sunday, visitors were invited to a pilgrimage tour on Godae Island, known for being a place where Karl Gutzlaff, a German-born Protestant missionary, stayed in 1832. The festival wrapped up with a singing contest among Boryeong residents held in the evening.