Held from October 13–14 in Yeosu and Gaedo, bringing together domestic and international experts and island residents to explore common challenges for sustainable islands.

The "2026 International Island Forum," a global event dedicated to discussing sustainable development and cooperation strategies for islands worldwide, opened on October 13 at the Sono Calm Yeosu hotel.

Held under the theme "Vibrant Islands, Meeting on Site," this year's forum brought together island experts and residents from both home and abroad to discuss ways to revitalize island economies, improve residential environments, and chart a sustainable path forward. In particular, the forum shifted away from conventional perspectives that view islands merely as targets for tourism and development, focusing instead on seeking diverse solutions to sustain residents' livelihoods and preserve the unique values of islands.

On the opening day, Christopher Cocker, CEO of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) from Tonga, delivered a keynote speech titled "Vibrant Islands Through Sustainable Tourism," presenting directions for island tourism development. He emphasized that tourism should contribute not only to local economic vitalization but also to the sustainable development of communities, anchored in local resident participation and the conservation of cultural and natural heritage.

In the subsequent sessions, strategies for boosting local economies using island resources—such as marine leisure, healing tourism, and the fisheries industry—were presented. Professor Cho Woo-jung of Korea Maritime & Marine University stressed the need to expand inter-island linked tourism and stay-type tourism, as well as share profits with local communities.

Discussions continued on sustainable island development centered on residents' lives and settlement conditions, under the theme "Habitable Islands, Finding Answers on Site."

Professor Yoon Byung-guk of Kyung Hee Cyber University emphasized that islands are living spaces where residents' lives and ecosystems coexist, rather than being mere tourist resources. He proposed a tourism development model that considers the environmental carrying capacity and uniqueness of islands. He presented Geumodo (healing and slow tourism), Gaedo (night sky and stay-type tourism), Nangdo and Sado (geological and educational tourism), and Geomundo and Baekdo (ecological and cultural heritage tourism) as Yeosu’s four strategic islands, explaining the necessity of building a tourism network that links stay-type tourism with resident income.

Lee Woong-gyu, Advisor to the Korean Island Studies Society, spoke under the theme "Islands Where People Return, Islands Where the Future Stays." He underscored that policies should move beyond population influx or facility expansion centered approaches. Instead, he stressed the need to improve accessibility to living infrastructures such as healthcare, education, and transportation, while comprehensively considering jobs, communities, natural environments, and cultural values.

A unique feature of this forum is that the stage for discussion is set directly on an actual island. On the second day, October 14, the venue shifts to the Gaedo Island Fishery and Village Culture Center, where discussions will continue focusing on the conservation of island ecosystems and cultural heritage, alongside the daily lives of residents.

An official from the organizing committee stated, "This International Island Forum serves as a venue to view islands not as mere objects of tourism and development, but as living spaces where residents' lives, culture, and nature breathe together, exploring a sustainable future for islands. We will continue various discussions and exchanges so that the Island Expo becomes an opportunity for global islands to share each other's experiences and wisdom, and rediscover the inherent value that islands hold."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]