"Thought Uninhabited Islands Would Be Cleaner": Marine Debris Washes Ashore

"I thought uninhabited islands would have less trash, but I was mistaken."

On July 4, a beach cleanup and local tourism promotion program, which combined barefoot walking with marine debris collection, was held in the area of Songjiho Beach in Jugwang-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province.

The program, which began at 5:00 a.m. that day, was attended by Goseong County Governor Ham Myeong-jun, members of the "Barefoot Happiness" club, the Goseong County press corps, and local government officials.

Participants personally collected various types of marine debris left on the beach, including plastic bottles, plastic fragments, and Styrofoam.

The activity was held under the theme of "Wishing for the Designation of the 2026 Global Peace Economic Special Zone and the Activation of Sea and Sky Routes."

Participants carried out the cleanup by moving along a set route, picking up trash, and then continuing their journey.

At the site, participants naturally collected debris along the coastline, where plastic bottles and floating objects washed up by the waves were mixed with seaweed. In some sections, they also dug out trash buried in the sand by hand.

The collected marine debris was gathered and sorted into bags placed on the beach, while relatively clean natural driftwood and debris were separated and delivered to the Songjiho Visitor Center.

Participants engaged in beach cleanup activities while distinguishing between trash and natural materials.

Cleanup efforts were concentrated particularly around the Songjiho Sea and Sky Route section, which is scheduled to officially open next month, and near Daeseom Island.

Participants moved along these sections to tidy up the beach environment and inspect the walking paths.

As the cleanup continued, bags were filled quickly, requiring additional supplies, reflecting a more active cleanup effort than expected. Participants were also seen clearing away light debris that had been scattered again by the wind.

Park Sang-yul, head of the Barefoot Happiness club, said, "Goseong's beaches are precious spaces where anyone can walk and stay freely," adding, "I hope that lifestyle activities like barefoot walking will lead to both nature conservation and a love for the local community."

Goseong County Governor Ham Myeong-jun also joined the event from start to finish to lend his support.

"We always live lives centered on phenomena, but the moment we walk on the beach sand, which is a product of nature, we can feel the essence through the sound of the waves and the sunrise," said Governor Ham. "I thank the Goseong County press corps for joining us today, and I hope you will continue to accompany us in the development of Goseong-gun."

Following the event, participants held a commemorative photo session and enjoyed refreshments, fostering a time for local development and community harmony.

Meanwhile, the Songjiho Beach area is being developed into a marine and ecological tourism destination, creating a circular tourism course that connects the migratory bird observatory, the Songjiho trail, and the traditional Wanggok Village.

Notably, the "Songjiho Sea and Sky Route," which had a pilot operation from May 23 to June 7, attracted a total of 110,186 visitors.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.