Total length 3.46 km (sea bridge 1.53 km, 2 places)… Improvement of settlement conditions, emphasis on southern coastal island tourism

After passing Dolsando in the southwest of Yeosuman Bay, there is an island called "Geumodo Island", which means a large soft-shelled turtle, because the topography of the island resembles a soft-shelled turtle.

Geumodo Island, which belongs to the Dadohae haesang National Park, is mostly a rocky coast, and boasts a beautiful coastal scenery with small bays and capes.

The coastline is very in and out, and it preserves the natural scenery of nature, such as the bireonggil of the cliff and the hiking trail where you can see the sunrise and sunset together.

In particular, Bireonggil, which is visited by more than 200,000 tourists a year, is gaining national popularity as a trekking course.

In the past, Geumodo Island was a place with thick forests and herds of deer. During the reign of King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty, Empress Myeongseong designated Geumodo Island as a deer ranch and made it a mountain that prohibited entry and logging.

Geumodo Island, which has many stories and beautiful coastal scenery, is one of the tourist attractions that people visit throughout the year.

However, the only way to get to the shore from here is by boat. The islanders have to worry about shipping because there are many tourists on weekends, and at night, they often stay awake in case their young children or elderly parents get sick.

Residents lamented, “Hwataedo, an island right next to it, already built a bridge in 2015, 7 years ago, and lives like a land. Other islands such as Wolho Island and Gaedo Island are also said to have bridges completed in 2027, but for how long will we have to travel on a boat with trepidation on our Geumodo Island?"

Yeosu-si has been continuously recommending changes to the national road route since 2019 to the National Assembly, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, in order to build the Geumodo Island marine bridge with government funding, based on the long-cherished wishes of the islanders.

However, in the plan to promote general national roads and national provincial roads announced in 2021, Geumodo Island was not included, so it was disappointing.

However, people say sincerity moves heaven. Jeollanam-do began to move due to the earnest wishes of the residents of Geumodo Island.

The province will conduct a basic survey service for the Geumodo Island bridge connection from July 2021 to June 2022. However, since the project cost was more than 200 billion won, it was difficult for Jeollanam-do to bear the full cost.

In the midst of this, the 8th municipal government elected by popular vote was launched, and the Geumodo Island marine bridge construction project was put on the agenda at the first government-ruling party council in July.

Mayor Jeong Kimyung made a decision after agonizing over several proposals. He decided to pay half of the project cost to the city, as the construction of the sea bridge could be cancelled if it was delayed.

After that, it was fast paced. Mayor Jeong, after meeting with the heads of a village in Nam-myeon in August and having a meeting, gathered the wishes of local politicians and the islanders and visited Governor Kim Yeongrok on October 12th.

At this meeting, Governor Kim Yeongrok positively reviewed the early construction of a sea bridge for the island residents and decided to meet the residents directly at Geumodo Island in Nam-myeon.

Finally, on October 19th, provincial governor Kim Youngrok, Yeosu Mayor Jeong Kimyung, member of the National Assembly Ju Chulhyeon, city chairman Kim Younggyu, provincial and city council members, and 20 resident representatives met on Geumodo Island to finalize and announce the "Geumodo Island Marine Bridge Construction Project".

According to the city, the "Geumodo Island Marine Bridge Construction Project" is scheduled to begin construction in 2025 and open in 2032 through feasibility studies, basic planning, bidding and design.

When the Marine Bridge is completed, island residents will be able to use their vehicles to travel to the downtown area within 30 minutes.

The life of the islanders will change drastically in all aspects such as education, culture, and living conditions, as well as an urgent response in emergency situations.

In particular, as the "Baekri Island Road" connecting Yeosu Dolsan to Goheung 8 Youngs is extended to Geumodo Island, it is expected that it will mark a point in the south coast island tourism that is emerging these days.

Yeosu-si and Jeollanam-do are in a position to start construction as soon as possible by quickly implementing related administrative procedures as the construction of the marine bridge has been confirmed.

Thinking of a bridge that will connect to the mainland, the residents of the Geumodo Island in the south are already swollen with excitement.