"Extinction Forecast" is documentary project in Jido, where KyeongJun Yang captures the essence of a community that is slowly disappearing.
With more cats than humans on the island, the once-bustling community has been reduced to a handful of people. Yang's photos showcase the beauty of the island's natural landscape while simultaneously highlighting the tragedy of a disappearing community.
Nestled in the heart of Incheon, South Korea, lies the Island of Jido. Once a vibrant community with a bustling elementary school, the island now has a total population of only 10 people. The tug of war between an aging population and a steep decline in fertility rates has become much more apparent in areas like Jido, where the median age is currently 70 and is expected to pass 80, then 90, and eventually back to 0, becoming an uninhabited island.
KyeongJun Yang, a photographer from South Korea, captures the islanders' lives through his lens, showcasing their slow disappearance as they are left behind by a society that seems to be moving on without them. Yang's recent photo project, "Extinction Forecast," sheds light on the effects of aging populations and declining fertility rates on small communities in rural areas.
Through his work, Yang focuses on how individuals and small communities are impacted by society and culture. Born and raised in Jinhae, South Korea, Yang came to the United States when he was 18 and studied journalism and philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. His works beautifully illustrate the complexities of social issues and their impact on our communities.
