ABSTRACT
The purpose of islands research is to cast light on and discuss interactions, relationships, and interchange among islands and islanders, analyzing marine resources and the environment from a macroscopic and diachronic perspective. Most of the Korean islands are intensively distributed in the West and South Seas, and demonstrate various historical, ecological, and cultural features. Recently, as accessibility to these islands has been improved, and urbanization of the coastal islands has increased by bridges project linking the islands to the mainland, discussions about the identity of the islands have developed. Bridges have resolved the long-cherished desire of many islanders to enhance connectivity with the land, but the archipelago islands’ unique culture is gradually disappearing. Global warming promotes a rise of sea water temperature, fishing grounds, and the lifestyle of fishing village communities are also changing. Thus, the identity of the islands is changing due to topography inside, and outside – the islanders’ traditional living site – and both the island-to-island network and the island-to-land network are also changing due to increased accessibility. This chapter discusses in depth what a future vision of sustainable islands might be and what value we should assign to that sustainability.
