Chuja Island's "one-day living sphere" at risk of collapse... Santa Monica ferry to suspend service at year-end

Operator to suspend service at year-end due to operating losses
Jeju same-day round trips no longer possible, undermining mobility rights
Moon Daerim: "Urgent need for practical measures at the national level"

With Seaworld, the operator of the Santa Monica ferry linking Jindo, Chuja Island and Jeju Island, notifying Jeju Province that it would abruptly suspend service on December 31 due to operating losses, residents of Chuja Island once again face the possible collapse of their “one-day living sphere” - the ability to travel to Jeju and return in a single day for medical appointments or work.

The large ferry Gold Stella (right), which connects Wando and Jeju, is arriving at Jeju Port. The reliable operation of passenger ferries, essential to ensuring the mobility rights and “one-hour living zone” for residents of islands and coastal areas, including Chuja Island, has recently become a major issue in the local community. Photo by Park Changwon.

According to documents obtained by National Assembly member Moon Dae-rim of the Democratic Party of Korea, who serves on the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, Seaworld officially responded to Jeju Province’s request for an operating plan on October 1, saying it intended to operate the route only through the end of this year.

Earlier this year, Jeju Province provided a substantial KRW 1.95 billion to cover the Santa Monica’s operating deficit and resume its service, but ultimately failed to prevent the operator from abandoning the route.

This route is effectively the only means for Chuja Island residents to make a same-day round trip to Jeju Island. The Songlim Blue Ocean, which currently operates on the Jeju-Chuja-Wando route, remains in service, but its schedule - departing Chuja Island in the afternoon and arriving in Jeju in the evening - makes it impossible to complete a round trip and take care of business in a single day.

This is not the first time the Santa Monica has been out of service for an extended period.

Service was suspended for 149 days, from October last year through March this year. At the time, the 280-ton Angel, deployed as a substitute, was unable to sail on 32 of its 76 days in service due to bad weather, exposing the limits of efforts to guarantee island residents’ mobility rights.

The Mokpo Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, which has jurisdiction over the route, plans to consider alternatives, including an open call for a new operator. However, the launch of a new large passenger ferry with comparable size and performance remains uncertain due to difficulties such as securing a vessel.

Assemblyman Moon said, “There is a serious risk that the government will overlook the actual loss of Chuja residents’ mobility rights on the superficial grounds that another ferry, the Songlim Blue Ocean, will continue operating even if the Santa Monica stops.”

He added, “During the parliamentary audit, I will vigorously question the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries about the unreasonable criteria for the coastal passenger route stabilization support program and its passive application of the law regarding the designation of state-subsidized routes. It is urgent to secure a replacement vessel that can protect Chuja residents’ one-day living sphere starting next January and to establish a national safety net that guarantees uninterrupted mobility for island communities across the country.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.