Sokuri Island is a place of rare beauty. It is a known habitat for deer and it offers beautiful marine scenery, with the mystical experience of the sea parting waters at low tide. However, as the island became a hotspot for campers, it faced a silent crisis: a mountain of illegally dumped waste and marine debris that began to overwhelm both the ecosystem and visitor attraction.

This wasn't just a routine cleanup. The Shincheonji Volunteer Group Jinhae Branch mobilised after receiving a direct request from the Jinhae District Office. On 4th May, 93 dedicated volunteers converged on the island. Their mission was clear: restore the home of the deers and the ecosystem.

The sheer volume of waste was staggering. In just one day, the volunteers collected 10,000 litres of debris.

While the cleanup was a success, the volunteers also focused on the root of the problem. They launched an awareness campaign for visitors, reminding everyone that protecting the ocean starts with a simple act: taking your litter back home. As a volunteer said, “At first, I thought the pier and the front of the island were clean, but as we went further into areas untouched by human footsteps, the waste and stench were severe,” adding, “Together with other volunteers, we focused on collecting large pieces of waste that were obstructing movement along the coast.”

This wasn't a one-time event. An official from the Jinhae branch emphasised that this is part of their ongoing "Nature, Let's Be Green" initiative. The group pledged to maintain a long-term partnership with Sokuri Island to ensure the deer—and the visitors—have a clean environment to thrive in.

Source: vo.la/5nDvdZi