Shinan County Island Faces Crisis as Ferry Services Plummet

The island of Gageodo in Shinan County is grappling with severe disruptions to daily life and local commerce following the suspension of key ferry services. The reduction in passenger and cargo transport has created a cascade of problems for residents, particularly those reliant on the sea for their livelihood. For Noh Ae-ran, a guesthouse owner on Gageodo for 30 years, the halt in services has made it nearly impossible to ship live seafood to mainland customers. What once took a day via express post now requires a three-day process, involving multiple transfers and a significant risk of spoilage in warmer weather.

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If I send live seafood to consumers, it takes three days to arrive. The weather is getting hotter, what should I do?

The core issue stems from three ferries operating on the Mokpo-Heuksan-Gageodo route being decommissioned. Two vessels from Dongyang Ferry ceased operations in late 2023 and early 2024 after reaching their 30-year operational limit. The situation worsened in June when Pink Dolphin, a ferry from Namhae Express, also stopped running due to its extended lifespan expiring. This has led to a significant reduction in sailings, with the ferry that used to run every other day between Mokpo and Gageodo now operating much less frequently.

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Originally, if I took the New Kinho at 8:30 AM from Manjaedo, I would arrive in Mokpo at 11:10 AM, and I could do my banking or get an injection at the hospital and return on the New Kinho at 2:40 PM.

The impact extends beyond just seafood delivery. The reduced ferry schedule has also crippled the local tourism industry, with Noh estimating a tenfold decrease in visitors. Furthermore, the disruption affects the daily routines of residents on smaller islands like Manjaedo, which is famous as a filming location for the popular TV show "Three Meals a Day." Previously, residents could easily commute to Mokpo for essential errands like banking and medical appointments, returning the same day. Now, the altered schedule leaves insufficient time for such activities.

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The company that manufactured it 22 years ago (Red Jet) was purchased two years ago (as a replacement for the Pink Dolphin route), but the ship inspection is being delayed.

Efforts to rectify the situation are hampered by bureaucratic and logistical challenges. Namhae Express cited delays in inspecting a recently acquired used vessel, while the Mokpo Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office noted difficulties in extending the lifespan of older ships. Adding to the concern, another ferry, Dongyang Gold, is set to reach its operational limit by October, potentially further reducing services. Residents are urging the restoration of the Pink Dolphin's route to normalize their lives, but the path to a solution remains uncertain.

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The Dongyang Ferry side is continuously saying it will be soon, but we don't know what the results will be.