Marine cleanup campaign targets four sites off Yeosu on Friday and Saturday; Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, businesses and civic groups to collect coastal and underwater debris

This image is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]
This image is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

A marine debris cleanup is set to take place on uninhabited islands off Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, where otter traces have been found and species such as gray herons and gray-tailed tattlers make their home. The government, businesses and civic groups will work together to remove trash from the islands' shorelines and seabeds to protect the marine ecosystem.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Thursday that it will hold the "2026 Second Uninhabited Island Marine Cleanup Campaign" from Friday to Saturday at four uninhabited islands off Yeosu — Gadeokdo, Suhangdo, Hyeongjeodo and Dwiryeo.

The campaign is part of the "Blank Canvas Project," which aims to preserve uninhabited islands as pristine spaces and chart their future together with the public. It is the second such event this year, following a cleanup at Chagwido off Jeju in June.

A map showing the locations of Gadeokdo, the marine cleanup site off Yeosu; Soho Port, the departure point; and Neomneri Breakwater, the marine debris collection point. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]
A map showing the locations of Gadeokdo, the marine cleanup site off Yeosu; Soho Port, the departure point; and Neomneri Breakwater, the marine debris collection point. [Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]

The cleanup sites include Gadeokdo near Soho-dong to the north of Yeosu, and Suhangdo, Hyeongjeodo and Dwiryeo around Geumodo to the south. Hyeongjeodo was designated "Uninhabited Island of the Month" in September and is noted for its high biodiversity — gray herons, gray-tailed tattlers and blue rock thrushes inhabit the island, and otter droppings have also been observed there.

The ministry plans to carry out intensive collection of coastal and underwater debris alongside the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, Posco, the Citizens' Association for Protecting National Parks and Seomsup.

Safety training will be conducted in advance for all participants, and emergency medical technicians will be stationed on site.

Seo Jin-hee, the ministry's director general for international cooperation policy, said uninhabited islands are "precious and vital maritime territory and a cherished habitat for diverse species." She added that the ministry would "continue working to pass on the ecology and environment of these outstanding, healthy uninhabited islands intact to the next generation."


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