Banwol Island and Bakji Island, part of Anjwa-myeon in Sinan County, were once ordinary islands with nothing in particular to distinguish them. But an idea sparked by the observation that balloon flowers, self-heal blossoms, and kohlrabi — all grown abundantly on these islands — happen to share the same color, purple, completely transformed the fate of these two islands. Building on the "Islands You Want to Visit" project launched in 2015, a full-scale purple-themed initiative was rolled out starting in 2019.
Through this project, the two bridges connecting Banwol and Bakji Islands were dressed in new purple coats as well. An existing wooden footbridge built in 2007 was reborn as the "Purple Bridge," and a newly built floating pedestrian bridge over the sea was named the "Moon Bridge." A project that dyes rooftops, walls, and even visitors' clothing purple demonstrates how a single small discovery about the color of a local specialty product can create an entirely new regional brand.
The project developed in stages: the islands entered the Want-to-Visit Island program in 2015; a 2018 county release described purple flowers and landscape work; an existing 2008 pedestrian link was later painted and branded. Purple crops, roofs, planting, bridges, public spending, resident work, and tourism promotion together produced the landscape. It was not naturally purple from the beginning. Maintenance, seasonal blooms, private homes, farm access, fees, and clothing benefits all require current checks and respectful behavior.