Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, and his younger sister Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, roller blade on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 26, 2021. "It would be great if I have more friends here because I can have more options to play," said Chan-hee. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Kim Si-young, 66, cooks oysters for siblings Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, and Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 28, 2021. "I cried so much (when the island school closed in 2006)," said Kim. "I want to protect Nokdo but it's depressing to see fewer and fewer people here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Kim Si-young, 66, looks at an old photo album at his home on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 27, 2021. "I cried so much (when the island school closed in 2006)," said Kim. "I want to protect Nokdo but it's depressing to see fewer and fewer people here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Kim Si-young, 66, cooks oysters on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 27, 2021. "When we went for (national service) military training some of us used to undergo vasectomy to curb population growth," said Kim. "Some got their wives to get it done." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, waves at a ferry as it departs from Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 26, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Choi Jin-sung, a teacher, teaches Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, and Kim Si-hu, 9, during class on the first day of the new semester at their school on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 2, 2021. "It would be great if I have more friends here because I can have more options to play," said Chan-hee. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, and Lyoo Ye-hee, 3, eat lunch with their mother, Won Ji-hui 41, and father, Lyoo Geun-pil, 42, at their home on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 2, 2021. "I'm also worried this place might disappear soon," Geun-pil said. "My first one (Chan-hee) needs to go to a middle school in two years ... I want to give some hope (to folks on the island) by finding a way to give middle school education to Chan-hee from here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, helps an eldery resident turn the pages of a bible, during a church service on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 28, 2021. "Seoul is so crowded, noisy and the air is not good," said Chan-hee. "Nokdo has no traffic, isn't noisy and the air is clean. I can play outside more actively, so I like it here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, his younger sister Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, and Lyoo Ye-hee, 3, get ready to go to sleep at their home on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 1, 2021. "Seoul is so crowded, noisy and the air is not good," said Chan-hee. "Nokdo has no traffic, isn't noisy and the air is clean. I can play outside more actively, so I like it here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Houses are seen on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Choi Jin-sung, a teacher, prays as he departs for Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 25, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, and Lyoo Ye-hee, 3, travel to a beach on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, looks at cactuses at Life Is A Flower (LIAF) Garden Center in Asan, South Korea, February 23, 2021. "Seoul is so crowded, noisy and the air is not good," said Chan-hee. "Nokdo has no traffic, isn't noisy and the air is clean. I can play outside more actively, so I like it here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, checks the body temperature of a resident, before a church service on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 28, 2021. "Seoul is so crowded, noisy and the air is not good," said Chan-hee. "Nokdo has no traffic, isn't noisy and the air is clean. I can play outside more actively, so I like it here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, and Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, prepare to go to school on the first day of the new semester, at their home on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 2, 2021. "Seoul is so crowded, noisy and the air is not good," said Chan-hee. "Nokdo has no traffic, isn't noisy and the air is clean. I can play outside more actively, so I like it here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, prepares to go to school on the first day of the new semester, at her home on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 2, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, rides a swing before going to school on the first day of the new semester, at his home on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 2, 2021. "It would be great if I have more friends here because I can have more options to play," said Chan-hee. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, and Kim Si-hu, 9, make their way to school on the first day of the new semester, on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 2, 2021. "Seoul is so crowded, noisy and the air is not good," said Chan-hee. "Nokdo has no traffic, isn't noisy and the air is clean. I can play outside more actively, so I like it here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, and Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, visit Nokdo elementary school which was permanently closed in 2006, on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 2, 2021. "It would be great if I have more friends here because I can have more options to play," said Chan-hee. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, plays with his younger sister Lyoo Chae-hee, 7, on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 28, 2021. "Seoul is so crowded, noisy and the air is not good," said Chan-hee. "Nokdo has no traffic, isn't noisy and the air is clean. I can play outside more actively, so I like it here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Chan-hee, 10, and Kim Si-hu, 9, use skipping ropes on the first day of the new semester at their school on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, March 2, 2021. "Seoul is so crowded, noisy and the air is not good," said Chan-hee. "Nokdo has no traffic, isn't noisy and the air is clean. I can play outside more actively, so I like it here." REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Lyoo Ye-hee, 3, plays hide and seek with her siblings on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A resident fishes on Nokdo island in Boryeong, South Korea, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A ferry travelling to Nokdo island departs the mainland of Boryeong, South Korea, February 25, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji SEARCH "NOKDO AGEING " FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES