The population of the island continues to grow, as droves of mainlanders decide to start a new chapter in their lives by moving to Jeju. Some, however, don’t stay for long, as the adjustment to local life can prove challenging. Here’s Mike Laidman with the story of one man who overcame those challenges.
Mr. (고재영) Go Jae-yeong is the owner of a small guesthouse in Seogwipo.

His family left their life in the city on mainland Korea three years ago to move to Jeju. Here, they’ve started a new life.

Much like other immigrants to Jeju, he was fascinated by the nature when he first visited the island as a tourist.

INTERVIEW
Go Jae-yeong / Mainland immigrant
Jeju is truly a blessed part of Korea. I chose to move here to live out the rest of my days in peace.
<인터뷰 : 고재영 / 서귀포시 표선면>
"제주도라는 곳이 정말 대한민국의 축복이거든요. 그래서 휴양도 할겸 조용히 남은 여생을 보내자라는 차원에서 왔는데.."

However, Mr. Go’s new life in Jeju wasn’t all easy; it was challenging at first.

He didn't have any friends or relatives to help him to settle down here when he moved.

INTERVIEW
Go Jae-yeong / Mainland immigrant
The first thing you have to do is make up your mind completely; you have to be resolved to work through any difficulties that come your way.
<인터뷰 : 고재영 / 서귀포시 표선면>
“(이주를 할 때) 제일 먼저 준비해야 할 것은 마음가짐. 무슨일이 있어도 내가 여기서 정착해야 겠다는 결심을 첫째로 준비해야 해요."

An increasing number of people are leaving their hometowns and immigrating to Jeju every year.

More than 97,000 arrived in 2015, while 83,000 left, meaning Jeju's net population growth for last year was about 14,000.

However, a considerable number of people are moving back to the mainland after failing to really make Jeju their home.

The province is coming up with a number of support plans to help people settle, but most of them are unrealistic.

INTERVIEW
Go Jae-yeong / Mainland immigrant
If you want to borrow 300 million won from the bank, you need to put up land worth about 700 or 800 million won as collateral. This is too much, and unrealistic for young people moving to the island. I hope that younger people will be able to get loans with lower interest rates.
<인터뷰 : 고재영 / 서귀포시 표선면>
“현재는 내가 3억 원을 대출받으려면 담보를 제공해야 해서 7~8억 원의 농지를 구입했을 때 가능해요. 그런데 이게 현실적으로 안 맞다는거죠.
----수퍼체인지-----
정말 젊은층이 와서 전세자금이라도 저리라도 대출을 받을 수 있게끔 하는것이 현실적인 것이지…."

People from all over the age spectrum and working a multitude of different jobs are flowing into the island every year to seek new opportunities.

[CAMERA]
Moon Ho-sung

[REPORTER]
Mike Laidman

And with the Jeju population expected to surpass 660,000 by the end of the year, better immigration support policies are needed.

Mike Laidman, KCTV