Ongjin County island development and healthcare initiatives

Ongjin County is undertaking various administrative, infrastructure, and healthcare initiatives to improve living standards for residents in its remote island regions.

Infrastructure efforts include a 6 billion won project in Deokjeok-myeon to prevent seawater intrusion on coastal roads. In Yeonpyeong-myeon, County Governor Jang Jeong-min has been inspecting local projects, such as the Daeyeonpyeong public sewage construction, while promoting community unity through events like the 53rd Ongjin County Residents' Day.

To address medical shortages, the county has established a memorandum of understanding with the Marine Corps Yeonpyeong Unit to utilize the ‘Gongnyong Clinic’ for enhanced healthcare accessibility. Specialized mobile services have also been deployed, including a two-day dermatology clinic on Ijakdo in collaboration with the Korea Hansen Welfare Association.

Furthering medical efforts, the Ongjin County Health Center has launched a pilot home medical center project in Baengnyeong-myeon. This initiative utilizes multidisciplinary teams—comprising doctors from Incheon Medical Center’s Baengnyeong Hospital alongside nurses and social workers—to conduct home visits for long-term care recipients with mobility issues. These visits include comprehensive evaluations of health, nutrition, and living environments to establish customized care plans. This collaborative model, which integrates public health centers with local medical institutions, has recently expanded to include the Baengnyeong and Daecheong areas.

Additionally, the county is implementing a 2026 social isolation prevention campaign to identify at-risk households and prevent solitary deaths. Due to the geographical challenges of island life and weather-restricted maritime transport, the county plans to use honorary social welfare officials and community security committees for wellness checks. This is supported by an Incheon City postal wellness service, where mail carriers visit homes to report signs of crisis for 131 households across Ongjin and Ganghwa counties.