South Coast Inhabited Islet Geomundo Named 2026 "Island of the Year"
Creatrip Team
a month ago
South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Ministry of the Interior and Safety have designated Geomundo (巨文島), an inhabited islet that serves as an outer territorial baseline point, as the 2026 “Island of the Year.” The annual designation (started in 2023) highlights one of the country’s seven inhabited baseline islands to raise local pride and public awareness of their role in defining maritime jurisdiction. Geomundo, off the southern coast near Yeosu, provides safe harbor for vessels during storms and is part of Dadohaehaesang National Park, noted for dramatic rock formations, camellia (dongbaek) forests, and seafood specialties like mackerel and kelp. Historical sites related to the “Geomundo Incident” remain, and Yeosu will host the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo from Sept 5–Nov 4 to promote island nature, culture, and development. More island information is available via the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ uninhabited-islands portal and the Interior Ministry’s Instagram account “What Island” (왓섬).
