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Islands of Korea, Islands of the World Analysis on the Current State of Public Support KIDI R&D

Policies for Korean Islands

1. Necessity of Research 3. Recommendations for Improving Island Support Policies
- This study examines the current state of public support policies for Korean islands, analyzes challenges in their - Legal and Institutional Reforms: Review and amend laws, plans, and financial support directions to address the
implementation, and proposes recommendations for improvement. challenges identified.
- Island support policies are managed by multiple ministries, but the lack of a cohesive cooperation framework makes - Integration of Policy Frameworks: Establish clear jurisdictional definitions for islands, standardize island criteria,
it difficult to comprehensively assess their effectiveness. develop a comprehensive master plan for islands, and introduce an island development impact assessment system.
- Understanding the current state of these policies will help identify regions or areas with insufficient or excessive - Enhancement of Financial Support: Ensure equitable funding allocation, focusing on under-supported areas like health,
support, pinpoint implementation issues, and suggest policy measures for balanced and effective support. welfare, and islands with small populations.

2. Current Status of Island Support Policies
2-1. Division of Policies into Legal, Planning, and Financial Categories
- An analysis of legal provisions related to islands identified 167 articles in 123 laws addressing island support, in
Vol.01 addition to specialized laws like the Island Development Promotion Act, Act on the Conservation and Management
of Uninhabited Islands, Special Act on the Conservation of Ecosystems in Island Areas including Dokdo, Act on the
Sustainable Use of Dokdo, and Special Act for the Establishment of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the
Development of Free International City.
- A total of 18 island-related plans were identified: 8 by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 2 by the Ministry of the
Interior and Safety, and 4 by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.
- In 2022, 49 island-related financial projects were implemented across 11 central ministries, with a combined budget
of KRW 1.1515 trillion. In Jeollanam-do Province, KRW 129.4 billion was allocated for 45 island-related projects.
- Local governments in Jeollanam-do supported 182 islands in 11 cities and counties with a combined budget of KRW
711.9 billion.

2-2. Challenges Identified in Island Support Policies
- Inconsistent definitions of islands across different laws create confusion for beneficiaries.
- Jurisdiction gaps: Support systems are lacking for inhabited islands with fewer than 10 residents and for islands
connected to the mainland, as well as for unclassified uninhabited islands.
- Disjointed data collection: Disparities in how islands are defined lead to inconsistent statistics.
- Fragmentation in planning: The absence of a comprehensive island plan has resulted in fragmented handling of
islands across multiple plans.
- Financial support imbalances: There is insufficient support for health and social welfare services, limited funding for
islands with small populations, and a significant reduction in support once islands are connected to the mainland by
bridges.

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