What's News

Geomundo, a Baseline Island on the Southern Coast, to Be Designated as Island of the Year 2026

  • Date

    2026.02.11.

  • Hit

    263

  • File

 
Geomundo, a Baseline Island on the Southern Coast, to Be Designated as Island of the Year 2026
- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Ministry of the Interior and Safety to name the Island of the Year to raise awareness of the importance of baseline points of the territorial sea
□ The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Acting Minister Kim Seong-beom) and the Ministry of Interior and Safety (MOIS; Minister Yoon Ho-joong) designated Geomundo, an inhabited island located in Yeosu City, Jeonnam Province, as “Island of the Year 2026.”
○ MOF and MOIS have annually designated one of the seven inhabited islands serving as the baseline points of the territorial sea as Island of the Year since 2023 to enhance the pride of residents of the island serving as the baseline points of the territorial sea and to inform the public continuously of the importance of the baseline points of the territorial sea.
* Gageodo in Sinan County, Jeonnam Province (2023), Sangwangdeungdo in Buan County, Jeonbuk Province (2024), and Yeoseodo in Wando County, Jeonnam Province (2025)
○ The 23 baseline points of the territorial sea are the outermost boundary points of Korea's territory and the criteria for determining the outer limits of maritime jurisdiction. Located on inland areas (3), inhabited islands (7), and uninhabited islands (13), they play an important role in security, economy, and environment.
□ Geomundo Island, which administratively belongs to Samsan-myeon in Yeosu City, is located far off the southern coast, providing an excellent refuge for large and small ships that cannot reach land during strong waves and winds such as during typhoons.
○ The entire island is part of Dadohae Marine National Park, boasting of outstanding natural scenery such as bizarre rock formations and camellia forest paths. It also boasts of a variety of local specialties such as Spanish mackerel, hairtail, jack mackerel, seaweed, and kelp, making it an attractive tourist destination. Historical sites from the Geomundo Incident remain, allowing visitors to tour the island as well.
○ For reference, Yeosu City will host the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo for two months from September 5 to November 4 in Jinmo District of Yeosu Dolsan to share the natural and ecological as well as cultural and historical values of islands including Geomundo and to inform the public of the island’s future development potential.
□ “We conduct a survey of approximately 300 uninhabited islands out of 2,910 target islands. In particular, we will strengthen activities to reevaluate the value and improve awareness of the baseline points of the territorial sea and surrounding waters that are important in terms of security, ecology, and strategy,” said Song Jong-jun, Acting Director General of International Cooperation Policy at MOF.
□ According to Kim Gun-ho, Director General of Balanced Development at MOIS, islands that serve as starting points for territorial waters hold significant value in terms of national defense and economy but experience accelerated population outflow and require balanced development support. “We plan to establish the 1st Comprehensive Remote Island Development Plan (2026–2030) to improve the living conditions for residents of remote islands, including baseline islands. We will continue providing consistent support so that residents living on islands far from the mainland can enjoy the same standard of living as those on the mainland,” he added.
□ A variety of information on islands in Korea, including Geomundo Island, can be found on MOF's uninhabited island comprehensive information website (http://uii.mof.go.kr) and What Island (@what_island__), MOIS’s promotional social media channel on Instagram.
LIST