The “Island Love 3gging Festival” held on Deokjeokdo Island in Ongjin-gun, Incheon, over two days from August 23 to 24, concluded successfully. Hosted by the Regional Innovation System for Education (RISE) Project Group at Incheon National University (Director: Kyu Won Kim), the festival went beyond simple volunteer activities, adding significance by presenting a sustainable island tourism model that combines marine environment conservation with the participation of the local community.

Dalli-gging(Running)

Three Practices, Opening the Future of Islands

The “Island Love 3gging Festival” was organized around three programs. First, “Dalli-gging”, a healing run along pristine coastlines to refresh body and mind. Second, “Joop-gging”, the direct collection of marine debris accumulated along the island’s shores. Third, “Barabo-gging”, a moment for participants to pause, gaze at the sea, and reflect. These programs went beyond the simple act of protecting the environment, reminding participants of the value of stopping amidst the excessive competition and information overload of modern society. Participants shared, “We realized that doing nothing is not laziness, but a process of mental recovery and recharging.”

A New Model of Public-Private-Academic Cooperation

The festival was promoted as part of the “Incheon Treasure Island 168 Specialization Competitiveness Enhancement Project.” It brought together the INU RISE Project Group, the Incheon Tourism Organization’s Island Development Support Center, the Incheon Cheongna Marathon Club, local companies, volunteer groups, and citizens. A total of 70 stakeholders gathered to engage in marine conservation activities, establishing a collaborative model in which the public, private, and academic sectors work together to address local issues.

In particular, the festival is not intended to remain a one-time event, but includes plans to develop into tourism and educational content that highlights the unique ecological and cultural resources of the islands in partnership with the local community, raising expectations for its long-term sustainability.

Joop-gging(Picking)

“Small Actions, Big Waves”

Kyu Won Kim, Director of Planning at Incheon National University and Head of the RISE Project Group, stated, “The Island Love 3gging Festival is a practical movement to restore the ecological value of Incheon’s islands and create a sustainable future together with the local community. I hope that these small steps will gather to form big waves that protect the Incheon Sea.” He added, “Even after the event, we will continue to collaborate with local residents to expand programs that integrate marine environment, culture, and healing, and to build a sustainable tourism and education model based on Incheon’s islands.”

Expanding the Reach of Marine Environment Campaigns

The “Island Love 3gging Festival” was held for the third time, following previous events on Yeongjongdo and Daeijakdo islands. With each iteration, the festival has expanded beyond simple marine cleanup activities to include marine healing and eco-tourism. This year’s event on Deokjeokdo demonstrated the potential to grow into a “Marine Festival of Incheon’s Islands” through its three practices to protect the islands. Furthermore, it is expected to promote the ecological value of Incheon’s islands both domestically and internationally, while also contributing to the revitalization of the local economy and community.

Badabo-gging(Watching)