INSIGHTS FROM THE 21ST ON-SITE ISLAND FORUM ON SARYANGDO ISLAND
The 21st On-site Island Forum took place on Saryangdo Island in Tongyeong City. Saryangdo Island, situated in Saryang-myeon of Tongyeong City, Gyeongnam Province, is comprised of two islands— one large and one small—located approximately 1.5km apart. The upper and lower islands face each other and are connected by Yeondo Bridge (Saryang Bridge), which was opened in 2015. Saryangdo Island is home to 1,360 residents (834 in the upper island and 526 in the lower island), and the tourist count reached 410,000 as of the previous year.
The forum addressed various unresolved issues, particularly focusing on the balanced development of the islands. Island residents emphasized the need to "achieve balanced development between the upper and lower islands." Notably, all 10 public facilities (including 2 schools, 5 public institutions, and 2 other facilities) on Saryangdo Island are located in the upper island, leading to a lack of communal spaces for residents.
Concerns were also raised regarding visitors to the island. Since Oknyoubong Mountain was designated as one of the 100 "Famous" Mountains of South Korea, Saryangdo Island has experienced a continuous influx of tourists. In 2017, Saryang-myeon recorded 630,000 tourists, and it was highlighted as a concern that these visitors were predominantly hikers.
