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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
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