| Baengnyeong Island | |
|---|---|
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 백령도 |
| Hanja | 白翎島 |
| Revised Romanization | Baengnyeongdo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Paengnyŏngdo |
Baengnyeong Island (sometimes spelled Baekryeong; Korean pronunciation: [pɛŋnjʌŋ-do]) is a 45.8-square-kilometre (17.7 sq mi) island in Ongjin County, Incheon, South Korea, located near the Northern Limit Line.[1] The 1953 s:Korean Armistice Agreement which ended the Korean War specified that the five islands including Baengnyeong Island would remain under United Nations Command and South Korea control. This agreement signed by both DPRK and United Nations Command.[2] Since then, it serves as a maritime demarcation between North and South Korea in the Yellow Sea. It has a population of approximately 4,329.[3]
The meaning of its name is "white wing island", since the island resembles an Ibis flying with the wings spread.[4]
Given its proximity to North Korea, it has served as a base for intelligence activity by the R.O.K.. Numerous North Korean defectors have also boated here to escape economic and political conditions in their homeland. In the recent past there have been several naval skirmishes between the two countries in the area.
National Treasures of South Korea #391–#393 are located on Baengnyeong Island.
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Baengnyeong Island is the westernmost point of South Korea. Travel time by boat to the island from Incheon is about four hours.[5]
Changsan Cape in Ryongyon, North Korea, can be seen from Baengnyeong on clear days.
The Chinese egret, which is considered to be one of the fifty rarest birds in the world, can be found here. Seals also make their homes on the beaches.[5]
Owing to the geographical location, Christianity went through Baengnyeong Island ahead of other Korean regions. After the Gabo Reform, Kim Seong-jin was exiled to this island, and the first church in Korea was established in 1896. There are ten churches on the island at the present time.
Two smaller islands nearby are Daecheong Island and the much smaller Socheong Island.
The South Korean naval vessel ROKS Cheonan sank near the island on March 26, 2010. The 1,200 ton vessel broke in two pieces with nearly half the crew dying (mainly in the stern section) and a little more than half surviving (mainly in the bow section). A multinational investigation concluded that a torpedo striking the ship was of North Korean origin, although this was subsequently challenged.
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