KIDI AND GWANGJU SHINSEGAE'S ESG COLLABORATION: GROCERIES FOR ISLAND COMMUNITIES As the second season of the 'KOREA ISLAND SHINSEGAE STAMP CHALLENGE' concluded, KIDI and Gwangju Shinsegae collaborated to provide groceries valued at approximately 8.4 million won to Wando County. The distributed food will benefit 120 households residing on 19 islands with fewer than 20 inhabitants in the region. Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in September of last year, KIDI and Gwangju Shinsegae have been actively engaged in various ESG social service. Notably, in May of this year, KIDI donated 10,000 bottles (2L) of water to address the drinking water shortage for 560 residents of Neopdo Island in Wando County.

INSIGHTS FROM THE 22ND ON-SITE ISLAND FORUM ON JODO AND HODO ISLAND The 22nd On-site Island Forum took place in Jodo and Hodo Islands, Namhae County. Despite the increased number of visitors drawn in by the opening of 'Seom Baraegil,' an old island trail, the island residents expressed a low level of satisfaction on the feeling thermometer. One contributing factor is the absence of licensed restaurants on the island. Additionally, the walking trail course is relatively short, lasting only 1-2 hours, leading to the perception of the island as merely a transit point. Furthermore, the passenger boat's capacity is limited to 30 people, significantly below the number of tourists visiting the island. This mismatch between capacity and demand poses inconveniences for both the island residents and visitors.

TRIPARTITE COLLABORATION FOR SDG IMPLEMENTATION KIDI, the Korea Institute of Public Administration, and the Saemaul Foundation have entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Following their participation in the 7th Regional Symposium on "Effective Digital Governance and Digital Transformation for Accelerating the Progress towards the 2030 Agenda" last October, these organizations have decided to collaborate to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the regional level as national entities. Under the terms of the MOU, the three organizations will jointly organize academic events, including seminars and workshops. They will also facilitate human resource exchanges, encompassing consultations and the review of research projects. Furthermore, there will be the exchange of information data, such as academic information and publications, including research databases. The collaboration extends to the cooperative promotion of policy evaluation, promotion projects, and ESG policies. Commencing with this MOU, the organizations intend to identify joint projects and expand their collaborative network.

UNINHABITED ISLAND OF NOVEMBER: JJONGGIDO ISLAND IN HADONG COUNTY 'JJonggido Island' in Hadong County has been selected as the 'Uninhabited Island of November' by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. This small uninhabited island, standing at 20 meters in altitude, 130 meters in length, and covering an area of 3,471 square meters, earned its name due to its resemblance to a Jjonggi*. The stepping stone bridge, known as Nodutgil, emerges twice daily during low tide, providing residents the opportunity to cross on foot. The island is composed of shale, mudstone, and sandstone. Of particular interest is the gray shale layer, displaying a 6-7 cm thick fossilized layer of gastropods, including conchs, conchshells, and brachiopods. This suggests that JJonggido Island may have been a freshwater lake during the Mesozoic Cretaceous period. * Jonggi: Gyeongsangnam-do dialect, "jongji" translates to a small bowl.

KIDI'S 4TH ISLAND PLOGGING CAMPAIGN ON WONSANDO ISLAND KIDI led the 4th Island Plogging Campaign this year on Wonsando Island in Boryeong City. The Island Plogging Campaign stands as one of KIDI's key ESG activities, contributing to the realization of 'Safer and Cleaner Islands.' This campaign, in particular, was closely aligned with the KIDI Island Specialization Project. On November 3rd, a total of 30 participants, including employees of the Korea Island Development Institution, the PM team of the specialization project, officials from Boryeong City, and local village residents, were divided into three teams to carry out the plogging activities. The teams collectively collected approximately 50 kilograms of waste, such as cigarette butts and plastic debris, from the vicinity of Wonsando Island.

ISLAND OF NOVEMBER: JODO AND HODO ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH SEA Jodo Island and Hodo Island in the South Sea, have been designated as 'the island of November.' Situated approximately 1-2km south of Mijo Fishing Port in Mijo-myeon, 'Jodo Island,' named for its resemblance to a flying bird (鳥, Jo), and 'Hodo Island,' shaped like a tiger (虎, Ho), are now home to a total of 100 residents. The inauguration of 'Seom Baraegil,' translating to old island trails, last May, covering 2.3km of Jodo Island and 2km of Hodo Island, has swiftly established them as an ideal location for autumn walks. Jodo Island and Hodo Island boast a scenic coastal walkway, providing a delightful one-hour stroll. Notably, these islands were previously chosen as 'the island destination for autumn 2023' by KIDI, MOIS, and MCST.

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.

2ND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: INSIGHTS FROM THE 6TH KOREA ISLAND FORUM ON SOUTH COAST TOURISM In commemoration of its 2nd anniversary, KIDI hosted the '6th Korea Island Forum,' focusing on the theme 'Strategy to Kickstart Tourism in the South Coast Islands.' Co-hosted by KIDI and Gyeongsangnam-do Province, the forum brought together over 100 participants from diverse backgrounds. Attendees included island residents, experts from domestic and international academia, representatives from local governments, the National Assembly, and related organizations. This collaborative event, participated by the Gyeongnam Institute and Jeonnam Research Institute, aimed to generate solutions for revitalizing tourism in the South Coast islands.

KIDI'S 2ND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: MOONLIGHT CONCERT AND ISLAND EXPLORATION In celebration of the 2nd anniversary on October 8th, KIDI organized a moonlight concert in collaboration with the KIDI Academy affiliated with the Mokpo Port Festival. Initially, an open-type course was conducted for approximately 40 Mokpo citizens, focusing on the theme of 'exploring tomorrow's island.' The following day, a moonlight concert took place in the moonlit garden on the 4th floor of the main building, attracting 100 attendees. The event kicked off with an island name guessing game to promote 'Our Island.' Additionally, the evening featured enchanting performances, including vocal music, pop songs, and movie OSTs, enhancing the ambiance of the autumn night.

KIDI'S PARTICIPATION IN THE 7TH REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM KIDI participated in the 7th Regional Symposium on "Effective Digital Governance and Digital Transformation for Accelerating the Progress towards the 2030 Agenda - Promoting Sustainable, Resilient, and Innovative Solutions". This event, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Division for Public Institutions and Digital Governance (DPIDG), through its Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) and Incheon Metropolitan City. It aimed to raise awareness of critical public governance issues, examine current and future trends, and provide new apporaches and methodologies to support Member States in developing their capacities to accelerate their commitments toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Regional Symposium drew the participation of approximately 1,500 domestic and international officials. Attendees included public administration experts, government officials, and figures from the academic world, representing 46 countries in the Asia-Pacific and East African region, including the United Nations. The symposium, which took place both online and offline, facilitated in-depth discussions. The event particularly focused on reviewing discussions from the SDG Summit held this past September. Various sessions delved into solutions for achieving innovation through digital transformation while emphasizing effective governance centered around local governments.

STRENGTHENING KOREA-JAPAN ISLAND COLLABORATIONS THROUGH KIDI INITIATIVES The 'Korea-Japan Island Policy Seminar' has significantly enhanced exchanges between Korea and Japan. This can be attributed to KIDI, launched in October 2021, which emphasizes a global island exchange hub as its core strategy and has strengthened collaboration with the Center for Research and Promotion of Japanese Islands. Notably, KIDI visited Japan in December of last year, prompting a reciprocal visit from the Center for Research and Promotion of Japan Islands and six Japanese island governments to Korea in October of this year. This exchange has naturally facilitated deeper connections between the two countries. The seminar acts as a platform for both nations to review and assess each other's island policies, with the shared objective of collectively addressing challenges related to the survival of local and island communities. KIDI and the Center for Research and Promotion of Japanese Islands share a common goal of achieving sustainable island development. * Center for Research and Promotion of Japanese Islands : Established in 1966, this specialized island research institution conducts various studies, promotions, and supports a range of development activities related to remote and isolated islands, 'Nakdo' (落島), located far from the mainland

HIGHLIGHTS FORM THE 19TH & 20TH ON-SITE ISLAND FORUM The 'On-site Island Forum' was held over two days from October 12th to 13th. The 19th On-site Island Forum, held on Hongdo Island in Shinan County, addressed topics related to village development and the operation of branch schools. Presently, the Hongdo Island branch of Heuksan Elementary School has a total of only three students. Adding to the concern is the fact that all three students are in the sixth grade, putting this school, with a 70-year history, at risk of closure. Another issue discussed was the supply of gasoline. Residents of Hongdo Island are currently facing various inconveniences due to supply problems, such as the need to transport gasoline directly from Heuksando Island, a nearby island. The pathways between villages pose a significant challenge, especially for island residents, mostly over the age of 60. They find it practically burdensome, as they have to trek for over two hours on foot, given the impracticality of traveling by car. During the 20th On-site Island Forum held on Heuksando Island in Shinan County, participants received a briefing on Heuksan Airport and the 'K-Tourism Island' project. The Korea Island Development Institute (KIDI) field consulting team, with the aim of establishing a comprehensive tourism plan for the 'K-Tourism Island,' also took part in the event. Heuksando Island has been designated as a 'K-Tourism Island' by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST), receiving support of approximately 10 billion won over the next four years for the project. Heuksando Island holds significant historical and cultural value, being the place where Jeong Yak-jeon, a Korean agronomist, philosopher, and poet, wrote 'Jasaneobo', Korea's first marine science research book. Additionally, it was the location of 'Pasi,' a market that once thrived in trading whales on the sea.