The Yeosu-Geomun route has become a one-day living area with the launch of high-speed passenger ships, receiving great response from residents and tourists.
According to Yeosu City on the 19th, the operation of the high-speed passenger ship ‘Hamel’, which makes round trips twice a day, has established a one-day living area for island residents, and the actual number of tourists visiting Geomundo Island has increased during the two months (August to September) that ‘Hamel’ has been in operation. ), an increase of approximately 10,000 (188%) compared to the same period last year.
The city expects that the launch of the ‘Hamel’ will secure transportation rights for island residents and at the same time contribute to revitalizing tourism.
In particular, Geomundo Island was selected for the ‘K Tourist Island Development Project’ promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and 10 billion won will be invested over the next four years to expand tourism infrastructure.
▶ What is ‘Hamelho’?… A total of 590 tons, a maximum speed of about 80 km per hour, and a capacity of 423 people.
The newly launched ‘Hamel’ is the latest passenger ship built at Damen Shipyard in the Netherlands. You can travel from Yeosu to Geomundo Island in 2 hours at a maximum speed of about 80 km/h.
It has a total capacity of 590 tons and can carry 423 passengers, increasing the passenger capacity by more than 80 compared to existing passenger ships.
It departs from Yeosu Coastal Ferry Terminal at 7:55 a.m. and 2 p.m. and takes about 2 hours to reach Geomundo Island via Narodo Island, Sonjukdo Island, Chodo (Uiseong), and Seodo Island. There are two departures from Geomundo Island, at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Accordingly, the Geomundo ferry service increased to three round trips per day from a total of two shipping companies, including the existing regular passenger ship ‘West Green’.
The fare is approximately 40,000 to 49,000 won for adults excluding island residents, but a 50% discount is applied in accordance with support for tourism and economic revitalization of island regions.
▶ After much hard work, the ‘Yeosu-Geomun route’ launched a high-speed ferry service.
The process until the speedboat entered service was not easy.
The Yeosu-Geomun route is a loss-making route, with frequent changes in shipping companies and a very high rate of passenger ship cancellations. Due to repeated suspensions and cancellations, Samsan-myeon residents and tourists had to go to the distant Nokdong Port and take a ferry.
As a result, the dissatisfaction of Samsan-myeon residents grew, and they made several protest visits to relevant organizations, including the city and Yeosu Regional Maritime and Port Office, urging them to come up with a solution.
Of course, Yeosu City has also been making every effort to secure new passenger ships for several years, including visiting shipping companies and local governments across the country with the goal of establishing a one-day living area for island residents.
However, all of them were rejected as a deficit was expected, and eventually the city established the ‘Yeosu City Ferry Operation Support Ordinance’ in 2021, providing a basis for supporting the operation of passenger ferry companies.
The city’s efforts led to the ‘selection of KT Marine Co., Ltd. as a maritime passenger transportation business operator for the Yeosu-Geomun route’ in November of last year and the ‘conclusion of a passenger ship operation business agreement’ in January of this year.
After an inauguration ceremony on July 5, the ultra-fast passenger ship ‘Hamel’ began operating in earnest on the 30th of the same month.
Yeosu Mayor Jeong Ki-myeong said, “Ahead of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, Geomundo Island is receiving great response from residents and tourists as it has become a one-day living area.” He added, “It is also significant in that the long-awaited project of Geomundo Island residents, which they have been waiting for for many years, has been resolved. “We will do our best to provide safer maritime transportation services in the future.”
Economy Queen Reporter Kim Hong-mi / Photo Yeosu City
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