'Gageodo' Selected as South Korea's Most Southwestern Island of the Year

Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Strengthen Territorial Sovereignty

▲Gageodo, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Source: Asia Economy DB)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 1st that Gageodo Island in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, located at the southwesternmost point of South Korea, has been selected as the "Island of the Year 2023."

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries decided to jointly select and introduce seven inhabited islands serving as baselines of territorial waters as the "Island of the Year" every January from January 2023 to January 2029 to promote the value of islands playing an important role in preserving maritime territory.

Gageodo, selected as the Island of the Year 2023, is an island located in Heuksan-myeon, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, at the southwesternmost point of South Korea, with about 300 households residing there. Gageodo has historically been a maritime gateway and boundary island between South Korea and China, holding an important geographical position. In 1907, the Gageodo Lighthouse was established to notify vessels entering South Korean territorial waters that they are in the Republic of Korea, while also ensuring the safety of ships navigating nearby waters.

Meanwhile, detailed information about the "Island of the Month" selected by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety can be found on the island promotion social media network, and information on uninhabited islands is available on the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' "Uninhabited Islands Comprehensive Information Provision System."

Kim Seonjo, Director of Balanced Development Support at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "Although islands provide living spaces and serve as a treasure trove of marine resources, they face the threat of 'island extinction' due to population decline," adding, "The government will actively strive to respond to 'island extinction' and create sustainable islands."

Kim Hyuntae, Director of International Cooperation Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "In 2023, we will prepare an island management plan including 23 baseline islands in terms of maritime territory use, preservation, and management in cooperation with related ministries to strengthen maritime territorial sovereignty."