Gyeongnam Province is moving forward with the 'Jisimdo Sanmaru Cultural Playground Project,' aimed at transforming Jisimdo Island into a stay-type tourist destination that combines its historical significance from the Japanese colonial period with its ecological resources, particularly the camellia forest.
On August 10, Gyeongnam Province announced plans to conduct an architectural design competition in the second half of this year related to the project. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Gyeongnam Province, and Geoje City are investing a total of 18.3 billion won, with a completion target set for the end of 2028.
This year, 6.582 billion won will be allocated to the project, consisting of 3.291 billion won (50%) from the national budget, 987 million won (15%) from the provincial budget, and 2.34 billion won (35%) from the city budget. Approximately 36% of the total project budget is designated for this year's design competition phase.
A Gyeongnam official explained the high budget allocation before the design is completed, stating, "This budget is not solely for design but also secures funds for the construction phase that will follow the design process. It signifies that we have secured national, provincial, and city funds."
Before construction begins, civil engineering design work commenced last August. Based on this, the architectural design competition will take place in the second half of this year to outline the project. However, with only about two years and four months remaining until the planned completion in late 2028, concerns have been raised about the tight schedule, especially considering the unique challenges of transporting materials by sea to the island. Gyeongnam Province responded, stating, "We have already included the costs and time required for maritime transport of materials in our project schedule."
Jisimdo Island, which resembles the character for 'heart' when viewed from above, is often referred to as the 'Island of Love.' It is also well-known for its dense camellia forest. However, it carries a painful history, having been forcibly evacuated during the Japanese colonial period in 1936 and used as a military fortress.
After liberation, the Ministry of National Defense managed the island for military purposes until ownership was transferred to Geoje City in 2017, paving the way to utilize its neglected historical, cultural, and ecological resources for tourism.
The project includes the development of a themed garden, a playground in the camellia forest, wellness facilities, hiking trails, and rest areas. The long-vacant former Defense Science Research Institute building will be remodeled into an educational facility for learning about nature and history, while the accommodation building will be transformed into a lodging facility for tourists. A trekking course will also be established to allow visitors to explore the scenic coastal views of the South Sea and the military relics from the Japanese colonial period.
Kim Sang-won, director of tourism development at Gyeongnam Province, stated, "Jisimdo is a treasure of an island that has preserved its ecosystem, untouched due to its long management as a military facility. We aim to develop it into a healing tourism destination where history and ecological resources harmonize, making it a representative tourist attraction of the South Coast."
The planned development area for this project is approximately 338,000 square meters, which has expanded due to the inclusion of the trekking course. Regarding concerns about potential damage to trees, a provincial official noted, "We understand that removal is not possible, and the area is designated as a protected zone." The project will proceed with remodeling existing buildings, allowing construction without harming the trees.
Given the large area involved, the project must also pass an environmental impact assessment. A provincial official commented on the assessment, saying, "It appears to fall within the scope of the assessment based on the area, and we will proceed with the detailed design alongside it. The determination of whether it is subject to the assessment will be made by Geoje City." As of now, the consultation process has not yet begun.
It remains unclear whether a public briefing for residents will be held. Some residents live on Jisimdo, and a provincial official mentioned, "When we visited the site, the residents were aware of the project. However, we need to confirm whether Geoje City has held a separate official briefing." They added, "It would be difficult to proceed without a briefing before construction begins."
This detailed execution plan for the Jisimdo project is part of the 'Southern Regional Tourism Development Project (Phase 1, 24 projects)' being pursued by Gyeongnam Province in collaboration with Busan, Ulsan, Gwangju, and Jeonnam.
This year, Gyeongnam Province plans to invest a total of 117.5 billion won in this regional project, including 58.8 billion won from the national budget. The province emphasized that this is the largest budget in history, based on figures from the past three years since the project began. In fact, the budget for this project was approximately 7 billion won in 2024 and about 27 billion won from the national budget in 2025.
Due to the geographical limitations of being an island, addressing emergency medical situations at night remains a challenge. Specific safety measures for stay-type tourists, such as increasing ferry operations or nighttime maritime transport, have not yet been established, highlighting the need for a clear safety net as the project progresses.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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