Jeju Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Status to Special Self-Governing Province

Gov. Won Hee-ryong of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial government speaks at a ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of status as a Province and the 10th anniversary of its elevation to a special self-governing province on Aug. 1. (Photos: Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial government)

Seventy years have passed since Jeju Island, a southern island that had been under the jurisdiction of Jeollanam-do, was elevated the status of a province. Jeju also recently marked the 10th anniversary of being becoming a “special self-governing” province on Aug. 1. The Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial government hosted a ceremony to mark the two historical occasions in front of the Gwandeokjeong Pavilion. The venue of the event, designed as National Treasure No. 322, is one of the oldest standing structures on Jeju Island.

Among more than 1,300 people on hand at the event were Gov. Won Hee-ryong, Chairman Shin Gwan-hong of the Jeju Special Self-governing Province Council; Superintendent Lee Suk-moon of the Jeju Special Self-governing Provincial Office of Education; Rep. Wee Sung-gon, Jeju National University President Hur Hyang-jin; and former Jeju Gov. Kim Tae-hwan.

In his commemorative speech, Gov. Won said, “Jeju is shaping up as the window of Korea’s future. Jeju is destined to lead the new trends of the times, harmonized with ecology, environment, peace and culture.” He called for the solidarity of provincial society.

Gov. Won said he wanted to share with provincial residents the joy and the significance of the 70th anniversary of Jeju’s elevation to a province and the 10th anniversary of its designation as a special self-governing province. He extended respect and thanks to all provincial residents for making Jeju a modern-day treasure, after overcoming numerous hardships.

“The historical dark side of the Jeju April 3 Incident in 1948 and the Korean War that broke out on June 25, 1950 left behind deep scars, but the motivation for a hope amidst despair is Jeju residents’ uniquely sincereness and intertwined communal culture,” he said.

A view of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial government building.

Jeju has undergone a tremendous sea change over the past 70 years, the governor said. In particular, he said that Jeju’s elevation to a special self-governing province in 2006 was the splendid achievement the province had made, and Jeju is now poised to become a window to Korea’s future.

“Jeju’s dream and future can be expanded infinitely and all Jeju residents can complement a happing Jeju if the capacity and unified force Jeju residents have accumulated so far are demonstrated fully,” he noted.

He said he pledged to devote himself to ushering in Jeju’s great history while embracing rigid orders Jeju residents have achieved through their sweat.

Reflectting on Jeju’s unique history, Chairman Shin of Jeju Special Self-governing Council said, “The path Jeju residents have walked along is a road ridden with ordeal, agonies and challenges.”

Dignitaries, including Gov. Won Hee-ryong, deliver commemorative speeches at the anniversary ceremony.

Jeju residents have created a new path for a better life and a bigger hope without despair, he added. “We’re on the move to become a special self-governing province, Island of Peace, and a global metropolis of the environment. From now on, we have a new path before us for Jeju’s future vision, calling for its core values ? cleanliness and coexistence. The history of ordeals that Jeju has undergone in the past will be good omens for a history of hope down the road,” he said.

The ceremony was filled with performances designed to spread policy sympathy of provincial society and rally Jeju residents’ solidarity. Traditional Korean percussion music “pulgmul nanjang” and fusion gukak collaboration performances took place as pre-ceremony events. People from several walks of life delivered video messages on the significance of the 70th anniversary and the 10th anniversary, and a provincial traditional Korean troupe also performed. Troupes performed group dances symbolizing 70 years after its elevation to a province and 10 years after its elevation to a special self-governing province, as well as those shaping like the Baekrockdam Crater and all participating performance teams also performed by joining forces in delivering co-existence and solidarity.

The provincial government published a book on 10 years anniversary of Jeju’s becoming a special self-governing province, a look into the developments of the province in that time period, an evaluation of the outcomes and a future vision.

A troupe performs a group dance symbolizing 70 years after its status to a province and 10 years after its elevation to a special self-governing province.

Jeju’s 2nd International Airport to be Open by 2025

The Jeju Special Self-governing Provincial Government plans to build and open a 2nd international airport by 2025 to cope with a surge in passenger flight demand.

The central government set the Seongsan area in Seoguipo City, covering 4.96 million square meters as the site of Jeju’s 2nd international airport with a runway, which is 3,200 meters long and 60 meters wide. The construction of the new airport, capable of accommodating 25 million passengers annually will cost an estimated 4.1 trillion won.

It forecasts that the population of Jeju Island will surge from current 650,000 to about 1 million — 830,000 residents and 170,000 long-period travelers — by 2025. Jeju International Airport will likely see passengers jump from about 26.23 million in 2015 to 32.11 million in 2020 and 39.39 million in 2025.

Facilities of Jeju International Airport will be expanded by 2018 to cope with the exacerbating situation of the airport in a stop-gap strategy before the opening of a 2nd airport. Due to a rapid rise in passenger flight demand, the airport saw its flight delay rate surge from 9.8 percent in 2014 to 13 percent in 2015 and 17 percent in the first three months of 2016. Three new taxiways at the airport will be built, while two flight parking ramps, seven aprons and parking lots will be expanded by the end of 2017. Domestic passenger and international passenger terminals will be expanded by March 2018. A newarking building with 20.278 square meters in floor space will be built and outdoor parking lots will be expanded during the period between September 2015 and December 2016.

Those on hand at the anniversary ceremony put their hand on the chest during a national ritual to make the Pledge of Allegiance. (Photos: Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial government)

Regarding to the construction of Jeju’s 2nd international airport, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOLIT) is conducting a preliminary feasibility study. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) plans to commission a master plan to construct Jeju’s 2nd international airport next year. A Jeju Airport development master plan and execution plan will be established during the period between 2018 and 2019. Compensation consultations for acquiring the related site and ground-breaking will be held in 2019.