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Islands of Korea, Islands of the World The 3,383 Islands of Korea’s Archipelago and the People Who Live There governments flexible financial autonomy—unlike traditional subsidies—making it a key tool for supporting regional KIDI Research
In 2021, a new Local Population Decline Response Fund was introduced to address population decline in vulnerable
regions, including islands. With annual government funding of KRW 1 trillion over 10 years, this fund gives local
Studying Islands and Island Life
resilience. Islands can use this fund alongside development plans to build infrastructure and launch new initiatives.
However, most of the development plan funding focuses on physical infrastructure (like breakwaters and piers), while the
Local Response Fund is predominantly directed toward inland regions. Only a small number of projects (among 557 in
total) were implemented in islands such as Incheon, Sinan, Ongjin, and Wando—suggesting that the effectiveness of these
Established in 2021 as the world’s first national research institute dedicated to islands, the
Korea Island Development Institute (KIDI) conducts studies that address real-life needs
island-specific projects need to be identified and pursued using this fund.
of island residents. In this magazine, Korea’s Islands, The World’s Islands, we introduce a policies in preventing island depopulation remains limited. To truly counter island population loss, more proactive and
Due to their insular nature—surrounded by water (maritime enclosure) and physically distant from the mainland (geographical
selection of research projects that aim to make a tangible difference in the lives of islanders.
isolation)—islands vary greatly. This calls for tailored population policies based on each island’s type.
Full research reports are available on KIDI’s website.

Hub Islands Small Islands Remote Islands
Islands connected to the mainland Not connected to the mainland, but Isolated islands not connected to
by bridges, serving as gateways accessible via passenger ferries; the mainland and without regular
between land and sea relatively small population ferry service
1. A Study on Population Decline
by Island Type Yeongjong-Yongyu Island (Incheon), Dumeodo (Tongyeong), Bigeumdo Jukguldo, Daejanggudo (Wando)
Amtaedo (Shinan) (Shinan), Nohwado (Wando)
Im Jae-hoon,
[Figure 1] Projected Population Trends of Islands in Korea
Associate Research Fellow (Project Evaluation Team, KIDI)
Islands mark the beginning of national territory, playing Total national population Island population
a vital role in asserting maritime sovereignty, supporting
6 million 100,000 Type 1: Remote Islands
human settlement, and serving as rich marine ecological
Securing permanent residents through aquaculture support
resources. From both geopolitical and environmental 5 million 80,000
02 perspectives, islands are crucial spaces. However, a steep Among the three categories, remote islands tend to have the youngest populations. Public broadcasters such as EBS have
Vol. population decline threatens the vitality of these islands. 4 million 60,000 referred to these as “money islands,” as aquaculture-based livelihoods offer high income potential. However, conflicts with
Between 2016 and 2021, the population of inhabited islands 3 million 40,000 nearby residents and local fisheries communities can lead to failed settlement attempts.
dropped by 5.01%, with eight islands losing their residential
status. According to KIDI’s foundational study Strategies to 2 million 20,000 To address this, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries introduced aquaculture lease programs to support young people
Address Island Population Decline, island populations are and returnees. A 2023 amendment to the Aquaculture Industry Development Act Enforcement Decree allows public
1 million
projected to shrink by 18.1% over the next 20 years. institutions to sublease aquaculture rights to individuals or groups.

Population loss is especially rapid on smaller islands that are The Ministry of the Interior and Safety also supports basic infrastructure (electricity, drinking water) through its “Small
Projected national population Projected population of inhabited islands
not connected to the mainland. Sustaining the unique value Island Abandonment Prevention Program.” Together, these measures are expected to be effective in countering
and resources of islands requires efforts to revitalize these depopulation on remote islands.
communities. Yet, because the pace of depopulation varies [Figure 2] Comparison of National vs. Island Population
depending on factors like accessibility and size, tailored Change Rates
responses are essential. Population decrease rate
National population change rate
Recognizing the value of island territories, the Ministry
of the Interior and Safety (formerly the Ministry of Home
Affairs) enacted the Island Development Promotion Act
(now the Island Advancement Act), under which a 10-year
Comprehensive Island Development Plan has been in place
for 36 years. This plan allocates relatively larger budgets
to underdeveloped and smaller islands to help ensure a

national minimum standard of living and build a social safety
net for island residents.

The current 4th Comprehensive Island Development
Plan (2018–2027) targets policy blind spots by supporting
National population change rate Inhabited island population change rate
infrastructure like fuel delivery vessels and offering programs
to prevent residential abandonment on islands with fewer
than 10 residents. Source: Statistics Korea’s Future Population Projections &
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Korea Island Development Institute internal data Abandoned house used as a storage facility (1) Abandoned house used as a storage facility (2)