울릉도의 섬 바가지요금에 관한 심층적 고찰

Abstract

This study aims to conduct an in-depth examination of price gouging practices on islands, focusing on Ulleungdo, which has been misrepresented as a "price-gouging island”. To achieve this, related newspaper articles, broadcasts, and previous research will be intensively analyzed. Through this, the study seeks to restore Ulleungdo's tourism reputation, thereby serving as a base camp for the protection of Dokdo, ensuring the stable quality of life and economic stability for the residents of Ulleungdo, and functioning as a sustainable island. This effort aligns with the goal of balanced national development and aims to establish Ulleungdo as an advanced forward base for maritime territory. This is because the government must create an opportunity for the residents of Ulleungdo to lead economically stable and secure lives by addressing the price gap between the mainland and the island through the enactment of the ‘Outlying Islands Act’. For this reason, the study identifies the restoration of public trust in Ulleungdo tourism as an urgent priority. Consequently, the research proposes three concrete strategies to resolve the tarnished image of Ulleungdo as a "price-gouging island": First, establishing the Ulleungdo Price Integrated Promotion Center to enhance price transparency and monitoring. Second, providing satisfactory experiences to tourists concerned about high prices. Third, offering financial support and incentives to address logistics improvement and cost reduction. In conclusion, to mitigate the stigma of price gouging on Ulleungdo, it is essential to provide tourism services that match Ulleungdo's reputation. The study emphasizes the need to discover various price stabilization policies and address logistics and distribution cost issues to restore Ulleungdo's tarnished tourism reputation. It is also crucial to ensure the stabilization of essential goods prices to guarantee the quality of life for local residents and to provide reasonable prices for essential goods for visitors.