 Introduction of the village
It is the southernmost island of multi-island seas located between Yeosu
and Jeju Island. It is composed of Seo, Dong and Go Islands and only Go
Island is frequently called Geomun Island. Its old names were Sam Island,
Samsan Island and Geoma Island, but Admiral Yeo-Chang Jeong of Chin Dynasty,
China named it Geomun as the island has many people who excel in literary academics.
It was included in Heungyang-myeon (today’s Goheung) in 1396, transferred
its government office to Tongyeong in 1701, and returned to Heungyang in 1855.
In 1885 (22nd year of the reign of Chosun King Gojong), Geomun Island
Incident occurred when Great Britain illegally captured the island saying that
they would prevent the Russia’s southward invasions. At this time, it
was called Hamilton Port. In 1896, Geomun Base was abandoned and the islands
were reorganized into Dolsan-gun with Cho and Sonjuk Islands as Upper Islands
and Geomun Island as Lower Island. In 1910, Upper and Lower Islands were
combined into Samsan-myeon. They were included in Yeosu-gun in 1914 and
Yeocheon-gun in 1949 and finally integrated into Yeosu in 1998.
The 330ha-wide natural port surrounded by three islands as a lake is called
Donae Seas and is used as a harbor where huge ships can freely enter. With
its geographical location, Geomun Island Harbor has constantly been invaded
by outer powers. It is composed of relatively steep mountains including
the highest peak of Manghang Mountains of Dong Island (247m), Eumdal Mountains
(237m) and Suwol Mountains (128m) of Seo Island. The coastline has many
projections with severe irregularity. It is mostly composed of rocky coasts
and the southern coast of Dong Island forms many sea cliffs. The average
temperature of January is 2℃ and of August is 25℃ with the annual rainfall
of 1,361.7㎜.
Our major productions include sweet potatoes, potatoes, garlic, barley, beans,
rapes, sesame and onions. Japanese mackerels, anchovies, eels, red snappers,
hairtails are mostly caught and natural oysters, seaweeds and clams are collected
by the coast. The islands are included in National Multi-island Sea Maritime
Park. There remains 3 tombs of British naval soldiers who died here during
the British Occupation of Geomun Island; Geomundo Beaches; Seodo Beaches where
old Chinese coins of Han Dynasty were found; and Shinjikki's Place with the
legend of a mermaid called Shinjikki. 《Geomun Island Sea Song》 transmitted
as words-of-mouth through the villagers is 1st Intangible Cultural Asset of
Jeollanam Province. There are three elementary schools, six elementary
school campuses and two junior high schools. There are lighthouses on
the southernmost and northernmost parts of Seo Island. It is first settled
by Chu Family about 360 years ago and every lunar Jan 15, we perform rituals
for Chu Family Grandmothers as our guardian spirits.
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