The Incheon Metropolitan City (인천광역시) government, led by Mayor Park Chan-dae (박찬대), held a ceremony on July 20 at the Incheon Coastal Passenger Terminal (인천항연안여객터미널) to celebrate the easing of nighttime ferry operation restrictions to the Northwest Islands (서북도서), officially marking the start of a new era of night sailings after 39 years. The Northwest Islands — Baengnyeong (백령도), Daecheong (대청도), Socheong (소청도), Daeyeonpyeong (대연평도), and Soyeonpyeong (소연평도) — had been the only waters in South Korea where nighttime passenger ferry service was banned, due to their special security status near the inter-Korean border.
 [코리안투데이] The ceremony celebrating the easing of nighttime ferry restrictions to the Northwest Islands (서북도서), held on July 20 at the Incheon Coastal Passenger Terminal (인천항연안여객터미널) © 김현수 기자 |
39-Year Regulation Finally Lifted… Northwest Islands Vessel Operation Regulations Amended
Until now, the Northwest Islands (서북도서) — Baengnyeong (백령도), Daecheong (대청도), Socheong (소청도), Daeyeonpyeong (대연평도), and Soyeonpyeong (소연평도) — had been the only waters in the country where nighttime passenger ferry operations were banned, owing to their special security status. On the long-distance routes, which take about four hours one way, ferries were often restricted by sunset even if the weather cleared up in the afternoon after poor conditions in the morning. As a result, the Incheon (인천)–Baengnyeong (백령) route saw as many as 71 days of canceled sailings last year, causing significant inconvenience for island residents and tourists.
In response, the City of Incheon (인천시), through ongoing consultations with related agencies including the Incheon Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries (인천지방해양수산청), the Navy, and the Coast Guard, successfully brought about an amendment to the ‘Northwest Islands Vessel Operation Regulations’ (서북도서 선박운항 규정). As a result, the permitted hours for nighttime operation — previously 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset — were revised to three hours before sunrise and three hours after sunset, opening a starlit sea route for the first time in 39 years.
Improved Mobility for Island Residents… Hopes to Ease Cancellations and Isolation
With the easing of nighttime operation restrictions starting July 20, 2026, maritime mobility rights for residents of the Northwest Islands (서북도서) are set to improve dramatically. Frequent cancellations due to fog and other conditions, as well as the problem of island isolation, are expected to be greatly alleviated, improving residents’ ability to respond to emergencies and enhancing everyday convenience.
Travel inconvenience for tourists visiting the Northwest Islands (서북도서) is also expected to decrease, which should help boost regional tourism demand.
Celebratory Ceremony Held on July 20… Merit Plaques Awarded
The ‘Ceremony to Celebrate the Easing of Nighttime Ferry Restrictions to the Northwest Islands (서북도서)’ was held on July 20 at the Incheon Coastal Passenger Terminal (인천항연안여객터미널) and was attended by the Mayor of Incheon (인천), the head of Ongjin County (옹진군), officials from related agencies, and representatives of local residents, who together celebrated the historic launch of the first starlit sea route. At the ceremony, plaques of merit were awarded to individuals who had contributed to easing the nighttime ferry operation restrictions, and participating agencies pledged to build a safety management cooperation system with the Coast Guard, military units, and other related organizations to ensure safe nighttime navigation.
Mayor Park Chan-dae (박찬대) said, “I find it deeply meaningful that we can finally open up the sea route for the residents of the Northwest Islands (서북도서), who have long endured great inconvenience from the nighttime operation restrictions over these 39 years.” He added, “Going forward, we will work closely with related agencies such as the Coast Guard and military units, and carefully oversee the process to ensure that nighttime ferry operations become firmly established as a safe practice.”
[ Reporter Kim Hyun-soo ] incheoneast@thekoreantoday.com
Apply as Local Ambassador
Apply for Journalist Training
Apply as Branch Director
The Korean Today Incheon-East
Leave a Reply