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Islands of Korea, Islands of the World                                                                                             A Transformative Experience                                                                                KIDI Business
                                                                                                                                         with KIDI Academy


                                                                                                                                         In December 2022, Ms. Li completed the 8th cohort
                                                                                                                                         of the KIDI Academy, which featured a three-day
                                                                                                                                         program in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. The
                                                                                                                                         immersive experience combined lectures on island
                                                                                                                                         policy, interactive sessions with island residents, and
                                                                                                                                         trekking on Yokjido Island.

                                                                                                                                         Recommended by her professor, Ms. Li valued the
                                                                                                                                         program’s hands-on approach, which offered both
                                                                                                                                         theoretical and practical insights. “I was very satisfied
                                                                                                                                         with the program. Listening to island residents during
                                                                                                                                         the lectures provided a deeper understanding of the
                                                                                                                                         challenges they face,” she said.

                                                                                                                                         Looking  ahead,  she  suggested  more  tailored
                                                                                                                                         programs for researchers, such as specialized courses
                                                                                                                                         segmented by participants’ expertise. “Customizing
                                                                                                                                         the curriculum for those conducting advanced
                                                                                                                                         research would add even more value,” she added.
                  Sinan’s Purple Island                             Fostering Bilateral Exchange Through                                                                                          A Call for Greater Support
                  : A Case Study in Successful Policy               Forums and Conferences                                                                                                        from KIDI

                  Ms. Li’s interest in Sinan’s Purple Islands (Banwol   Highlighting  the  importance  of  international                                                                          Reflecting on her experience, Ms. Li expressed a
       Vol.01     and Parkjido) began during her research into      collaboration, Ms. Li praised KIDI’s efforts to engage                                                                        need for a centralized platform managed by KIDI
                                                                    with institutions like Japan’s Remote Islands Center and
                  Korea’s island policies. These islands, internationally
                                                                                                                                                                                                  to provide consistent and reliable data on Korea’s
                  celebrated for their transformation through color   local governments such as Hachijojima. She suggested                                                                        oceans and islands. She also suggested that KIDI
                  marketing, offered a compelling case study for her   extending these exchanges to include China, particularly                                                                   could serve as a liaison between researchers and
                  work.                                             through academic forums and conferences that bridge                                                                           island residents during fieldwork, particularly for
                                                                    gaps between researchers and policymakers.                                                                                    international scholars.
                  The Purple Islands gained global attention as Korea’s
                  first islands to undergo a successful revival through   China’s Navigation Center, which specializes in island                                                                  “Field research is crucial, and having KIDI facilitate
                  branding. Recognized as a 2021 Korean Tourism     affairs, mirrors KIDI’s role in Korea. Ms. Li emphasized                                                                      communication with island communities would
                  Star, they were listed among the Top 100 Tourist   the value of partnerships between such organizations,                                                                        be invaluable,” she said.
                  Destinations by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and   advocating for information-sharing platforms and joint
                  Tourism and received accolades from the UNWTO as   research initiatives.                                                                                                        Ms. Li aspires to contribute to maritime policy
                  one of the world’s best tourist villages.                                                                                                                                       exchanges between Korea and China, aiming for
                                                                    “Exchanges between governments, organizations, and                                                                            a future as a university professor, researcher, or
                  Fascinated by their success, Ms. Li conducted a   local administrations are essential,” she said. “Academic                                                                     public servant. As she continues her journey, her
                  detailed analysis, presenting her findings at an   conferences in the maritime sector can provide valuable                                                                      connection with KIDI remains a cornerstone of her
                  academic conference in China in November 2022.    opportunities to share research findings and develop                                                                          academic and professional aspirations.
                  Her research deepened after attending the 2022    collaborative solutions. I hope Korea will host more
                  World Island Cultural Diversity Forum in Sinan, where   international forums to further this goal.”
                  workshops on island branding inspired further study.

                  “I wanted to understand the policies behind the
                  Purple Islands’ rise as a global tourist attraction,”
                  she said. “Their holistic approach, from welfare
                  improvements to waste management and guided
                  tourism programs, is a blueprint for other islands.
                  There’s much to learn from their experience.”

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