SEOUL, The government will invest 61.6 billion won (US$45.1 million) this year to help improve the living quality on five front-line islands in the Yellow Sea near North Korea, including the construction of an airport and a hospital vessel.
The interior ministry unveiled the decision as part of a broader 15-year development plan for the “Yellow Sea five islands,” pursued since North Korea’s fatal 2010 shelling on one of the five islands, Yeonpyeong, to enhance living conditions and ensure social stability.
The others are Baengnyeong, Daecheong, Socheong and U Island.
The 2024 budget is 3.2 percent more than what was allocated for the plan last year.
One of the most prominent projects to be pursued this year is the construction of an airport on Baengnyeong, for which 4 billion won will be allocated for the preliminary design.
Construction will begin in 2026 with the goal of completing it by 2029, officials said.
This year’s plans also include the payment of 8.3 billion won in livelihood assistance hando
uts to residents, amounting to 160,000 won per person for those who have lived in the areas for over 10 years and 100,000 won for those with shorter residency.
The government will also invest 5.4 billion won to construct a hospital vessel, which will shuttle between the five islands to provide health care services, a rarity in the sparsely populated border regions.
“The Yellow Sea five islands are an important area that has strenuously played a role in defending the national territory at the country’s front line,” Interior Minister Lee Sang-min said, pledging continued support.