민주주의 성지 'DJ 생가' 잊혀지는 이유는? (뉴스데스크 2026.6.21 광주MBC)

◀ Anchor ▶ Ahead of the 17th anniversary of the passing of the late former President Kim Dae-jung, we examine the management and utilization status of his birthplace on Ha-ui Island in Sinan. Although it is a symbolic space representing democracy and human rights, the number of visitors is gradually decreasing. Reporter Moon Yeon-cheol investigated the reasons for this. ◀ Report ▶ Ha-ui Island is located at the southernmost point among the islands of Sinan County. It is the birthplace where the late former President Kim Dae-jung was born and spent his childhood. While it is the space where a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a symbol of Korean democracy began, the number of visitors to the birthplace is declining. The number of visitors to the birthplace, which stood at around 10,000 in 2021, has recently dropped to the 8,000 range, and is projected to fall to the 7,000 range this year. ◀ INT ▶ Ko Myung-hee / Caretaker of President Kim Dae-jung's Birthplace “Many visitors come from far away. They used to come solely for President Kim Dae-jung, but I think that number has decreased significantly over time. Above all, transportation is inconvenient, so they find it difficult just to get here.” The biggest obstacle is accessibility. It takes 1 hour and 10 minutes by speedboat from Mokpo to Ha-ui Island, and over 2 hours by car ferry. Operating hours are also limited, making it quite burdensome for tourists from out of town to visit on a day trip. There is also insufficient infrastructure for getting around or staying on the island. The youth hostel, which opened in 2018, has been closed for two years due to operational staffing issues. Improving content is also a challenge. It is pointed out that there is a need for programs that allow visitors to experience former President Kim’s journey toward democratization and his spirit of peace, rather than just stopping at touring the birthplace. Sinan County has stated its intention to pursue revitalization plans linked to tourism resources surrounding the birthplace. Nearby, the Museum of Photographs of Political Figures is being developed with the goal of opening next year, and the Korean Peninsula Peace Forest has also been established. ◀ INT ▶ Kang Ki-seong, Head of Tourism Policy Team, Sinan County “Due to operational difficulties, such as the appointment of an operating representative, regarding the Ha-ui Youth Training Facility, we plan to decommission the facility and remodel it into an accommodation facility to contribute to attracting tourists.” Some former presidents' birthplaces attract hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of visitors annually. In contrast, the birthplace of former President Kim Dae-jung on Ha-ui Island faces limitations in terms of accessibility, infrastructure for staying, and content. Calls are also being raised to more actively expand the DJ promotion projects, which have been stagnating. Transforming the Ha-ui Island birthplace—a symbol of democracy and human rights—from a place to stop by briefly into a space to stay and learn remains a task that must be addressed in the future. This is Moon Yeon-cheol from MBC News. ◀ END ▶