Geojedo

Geojedo

Native name: 거제도
Geoje Island (South Korea)
Geography
Location	Korea Strait
Coordinates	34°51′29″N 128°37′06″E / 34.85806°N 128.61833°E / 34.85806; 128.61833
Area	383.44 km2 (148.05 sq mi)
Highest elevation	580 m (1,900 ft)
Highest point	Gara
Country
South Korea
Province	Gyeongsangnam-do
Largest city	Geoje (pop. 219,500)
Demographics
Ethnic groups	Korean

Geojedo or Geoje Island (also often spelled Koje Island) is the principal island of Geoje City, on the southern coast of Gyeongsangnam-do province, South Korea. It is joined to land by two bridges from nearby Tongyeong. Sinhyeon is the largest town on the island. The Busan-Geoje Fixed Link was open in December 2010 and provides a more direct connection to the city of Busan.

Geoje Island covers an area of 383.44 km², the second largest island in South Korea (second to Jeju Island). The landscape features several peaks: Gara (580 m), Gyerong (554.9 m), the skirmisher mountain (465.5 m), Daegeum (437.5 m) and Googsabong (400 m). Geojedo is known for its rich deposits of granite. The southern belt of Geojedo, together with part of Namhaedo in Namhae County, belongs to Hallyeo Maritime National Park.

Geoje Island features several natural harbors. Shipbuilding is the largest industry on the island. The second and third largest shipyards in South Korea are both located on the island, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in the city of Okpo, and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in the city of Gohyeon (Geoje City).

History

It was the final port of call of the SS Meredith Victory at Christmastide 1950, when that ship evacuated some fourteen thousand North Korean civilians from Hungnam.^[1]

See also

• Islands of South Korea
• Geography of South Korea
• List of Korea-related topics

References

External links

• Geoje Foreigner's Residents Association - Foreigners' Club in Okpo
• Geojedo featured on JustEnoughKorean.com

Coordinates: 34°51′29″N 128°37′06″E / 34.85806°N 128.61833°E / 34.85806; 128.61833