[iNews24 Reporter Yoon Junho] Yeosu, in South Jeolla Province, is staking its claim as South Korea’s island tourism capital.
The city announced on the 4th that it held a proclamation ceremony for the "2026 Year of Visiting Islands" on the outdoor stage at Yi Sun-sin Plaza on the 2nd.
The event aimed to rally support for the upcoming 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo and spark broader public interest in island travel. Linked with the 60th Yeosu Turtle Ship Festival, the ceremony was designed as a festive gathering for both residents and visitors.
Opening with live performances, the program brought together officials including Deputy Minister Kim Min-jae of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Cho Seong-hwan, director of the Korea Islands Promotion Agency. They shared strategic directions for boosting tourism and reinforced plans for cooperation.
The ceremony closed with a proclamation performance featuring guests and the event’s ambassadors, unveiling the slogan "K-Travel Starts on the Islands" to promote the message domestically and abroad.
Before the event, the official ambassadors toured Hwahado, Sado, Gaedo and Nangdo, meeting residents and producing content that naturally showcased each island’s unique charm, local cuisine and activities.
The city plans to use the proclamation as a springboard to work with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Korea Islands Promotion Agency and local governments to △ form a Year of Island Visits task force △ and advance connected projects such as accommodation campaigns and passenger fare support.
Deputy Mayor Jeong Hyun-gu said the city will do its utmost in the coming months to ensure visitors to Yeosu can newly discover the islands’ diverse attractions.
