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Islands of Korea, Islands of the World Transportation and safety are fundamental rights that should be guaranteed to all citizens. Docking scene in Policy priorities for R&D Station
KIDI Island Policy Research 1
a transportation blind spot
utilizing administrative and
excursion vessels
To support approximately 1,000 residents in
However, many island residents continue to suffer from limited access to transportation.
these areas, the Korea Island Development
KIDI gathered expert input and applied the
Institute (KIDI) reviewed the feasibility of using
While airports are under construction on Ulleungdo and Heuksando
administrative and excursion vessels and
policy priorities.
Islands (scheduled for opening in 2025 and 2027 respectively), as
proposed an operational plan. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine
The results ranked the following:
of 2023, ships remain the only available transportation mode to
- Legal and institutional reform (0.45)
and from all island areas—except Jeju.
The study is based on Article 13-3 (Support - Financial support (0.33)
for Transportation Convenience) of the Island - Operational improvements (0.22)
Development Promotion Act, which took effect Legal improvements involve restructuring and
in May 2023. It explores the potential to deploy regulatory reform. Financial support includes
these vessels in blind spot regions. infrastructure, fare subsidies, operating costs,
Islands without basic transportation…
and vessel procurement.
Utilizing administrative and excursion vessels As of December 2021, Korea operated 788
government-owned vessels (excluding Coast
Over 1,000 vessels, including 788 government-owned ships
Guard ships), including fishery patrol and
and 236 excursion vessels
technical inspection boats—278 run by central
government, 352 by local governments, and 158
As routes connecting islands continue to be by public institutions.
reduced or discontinued due to population A view of a ship in a blind spot of traffic Ferry operated by Wando County
Vol.03 decline, new research has been conducted to However, interviews with vessel administrators
safeguard the mobility rights of island residents.
and reviews of local laws revealed that only
Ganghwa-gun and Sinan-gun explicitly authorize
The “Study on Resolving Maritime Transportation
the use of these vessels for transportation in
Blind Spots on Islands” was launched to improve
transportation access for residents in underserved underserved island areas. Since administrative
Ferry operated by Yeosu City
areas. vessels alone are insufficient, excursion and ferry
vessels must also be considered.
The study defines these blind spots as inhabited To ensure efficient deployment of vessels, KIDI
islands where passenger ships or ferries are not In Korea, "excursion ships” are typically for proposes integrating the Maritime Transportation
in operation due to low economic viability, and
leisure use, while "ferries” are designed to Act and the Excursion and Ferry Vessel Act
where no land bridges have been built.
transport passengers or cargo across inland or into a unified legal framework. However,
coastal waters. As of March 2023, 145 excursion this will take time due to the need for broad
Currently, 73 islands in Korea fall into this category.
Residents must rely on privately owned fishing or ships and 91 ferries were in operation—a total of stakeholder consensus. As an interim measure,
leisure boats to travel to the mainland for basic 236 vessels. KIDI recommends a special license system for
needs such as administrative services, healthcare, vessels operating in blind spot areas—valid until
and welfare—posing both financial burdens full passenger routes are secured. Demand-
and safety risks due to unpredictable marine responsive systems are also needed—allowing
conditions. routes, schedules, and docking locations to be
flexibly adjusted based on residents’ needs. In
In emergencies, some residents resort to paying for
parallel, new value can be created by introducing
unauthorized transport, a practice that is illegal
shared transportation systems using maritime
and subject to enforcement by the Coast Guard.
Uber-style taxis, autonomous maritime UAM, and
With no viable alternatives, islanders express Administrative vessel introduced by Goheung County
42 growing frustration. after passenger ferry (Sisan Ferry) service was suspended eco-friendly, self-operating small vessels. 43