Residing in an island paradise is the quintessential escape we all dream of. Yet, it somewhat loses it’s allure when you grasp that 30-minute pizza deliveries or even driving down to your favourite pub is out of the question. Nevertheless, Kim Sin-yeol is an 81-year-old widow who chooses to live this dream every day!
Kim has been residing on the lonely Dodko islands set against clear blue skies and the cerulean ocean since 1991. However, she is the only living individual on the entire island. Talk about privacy!
She initially moved to the islands with her husband in 1991. Kim was a female freediver until 2017 when her age and ailments meant she couldn’t continue working. Her husband passed in 2018. Since then, she is the sole resident of the Dokdo Islands.
The lonely crop of islands is in the midst of a land dispute between Japan and South Korea. Administered by Seoul, South Koreans believe they own the islands since the 6th century; while Japan has staked its right from 17th century.
The Japanese call the islands Takeshima and the waters around it -the Sea of Japan, reported CNN. Other visitors to the islands include policemen, sailors, tourists, and lighthouse operators who make frequent trips. Yet none live on the island like Kim.
81 yaşındaki Kim Sin-yeol isimli Güney Koreli kadın, ülkesi ile Japonya arasında hak iddiası bulunan adada tek başına yaşıyor: pic.twitter.com/0Khok6kzEk
— Selcuk Eren (@selcukerennn) February 15, 2019
Wondering why the island has remained relatively uninhabited all these years? Well, rain for starters and harsh thunderstorms. Such weather ensures that the island is cut off from the mainland for weeks at a time. Yet survival is possible, as it is a rich fishing ground.
While you may think it is a lonely way to live, Kim has no plans to leave her paradise permanently.
“She said living on Dokdo is relaxing. Being there, her mind is at ease,” Kim’s son-in-law told CNN.
In fact, her daughter and son-in-law intend to move there with her as permanent residents. They plan to sell stamps, soap and seafood to tourists who take the 4-hour journey to the island.
Is the island living for you? Or would you fear such isolation! Tell us in the comments.