- Launch ceremony held on the 20th at Jeju Hamo Gymnasium… College students from across the country embark on 5-night, 6-day coastal cleanup
- Cumulative record over the past 6 years since launch in 2020: 522 participants and 15.9 tons of coastal waste collected
- Environmental expert mentor groups including 'Hot Pink Dolphins' join along… Full-scale sponsorship from eco-friendly startups and local governments
- Aiming to become South Korea's representative youth social contribution project under the slogan "Change the Ocean, Change the World"

College student members listen attentively to the speaker's guidance and the declaration of departure on the stage during the launch ceremony of the '2026 College Students 87km Beach Expedition' held at Hamo Gymnasium in Seogwipo-si, Jeju, on the 20th. [Photo provided by the Beach Expedition Operations Secretariat]
College student members listen attentively to the speaker's guidance and the declaration of departure on the stage during the launch ceremony of the '2026 College Students 87km Beach Expedition' held at Hamo Gymnasium in Seogwipo-si, Jeju, on the 20th. [Photo provided by the Beach Expedition Operations Secretariat]

Around 100 college students selected from across the country have embarked on a large-scale environmental preservation activity, walking 87km along Jeju's beaches to collect marine debris.

The operations secretariat of the '2026 College Students 87km Beach Expedition' announced that it held a launch ceremony at 1:00 PM on the 20th at Hamo Gymnasium in Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, kicking off a 5-night, 6-day beach clean activity in earnest. After finishing the declaration of departure and oath, the members will conduct cleanup activities while walking along the coastal paths of Seogwipo-si.

Under the slogan "Change the Ocean, Change the World," the Beach Expedition first took its step in 2020 in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do, with 56 participants. Over the past 6 years, a cumulative total of 522 participants have completed 522km, and the total amount of coastal waste collected during this process reaches 15,904kg.

Experts from various fields have joined this year's expedition to support the youths' activities. Jo Yak-gol, representative of the marine environmental movement group 'Hot Pink Dolphins', and Lee Kyung-mi, representative of the zero-waste space 'Jigubyeol Store', will serve as lecture mentors. In addition, Professor Jang Kyung-tae of Yongin University and documentary photographer Kim Sang-jun will accompany the group as marching and photography mentors, while numerous companies and institutions have provided eco-friendly team uniforms and necessary supplies.

Lee Yeon-jae, head of the Beach Expedition, shared her aspirations for the activities, stating, "I am confident that the good deeds of the college students participating in this expedition will become the driving force to change the ocean and the world."