Baengnyeong Island
Encyclopedia
Baengnyeong Island is a 45.8 square kilometres (17.7 sq mi) island in Ongjin County
, Incheon
, South Korea
, located near the Northern Limit Line
. 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. 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.
The meaning of its name is "white wing island", since the island resembles an Ibis
flying with the wings spread.
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.
Changsan Cape in Ryongyon
, North Korea, can be seen from Baengnyeong on clear days.
, 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.
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.
and the much smaller Socheong Island.
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.
.
Ongjin County, Incheon
Ongjin County is a county in Incheon Metropolitan City, South Korea. It consists of a group of islands in the Yellow Sea .Four of the islands, Yeonpyeong Island, Baengnyeong, Daecheong, and Socheong Islands, are very near the Northern Limit Line...
, Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, located near the Northern Limit Line
Northern Limit Line
The Northern Limit Line or North Limit Line is a disputed inter-Korea maritime demarcation line in the Yellow Sea between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the north, and the Republic of Korea on the south...
. The 1953 s:Korean Armistice Agreement which ended the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
specified that the five islands including Baengnyeong Island would remain under United Nations Command and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
control. This agreement signed by both DPRK and United Nations Command. Since then, it serves as a maritime demarcation between
Division of Korea
The division of Korea into North Korea and South Korea stems from the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, ending Japan's 35-year colonial rule of Korea. In a proposal opposed by nearly all Koreans, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to temporarily occupy the country as a trusteeship...
North
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and South Korea in the Yellow Sea. It has a population of approximately 4,329.
The meaning of its name is "white wing island", since the island resembles an Ibis
Ibis
The ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae....
flying with the wings spread.
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
National treasures of South Korea
The National Treasures of Korea are a numbered set of tangible treasures, artifacts, sites, and buildings which are recognized by South Korea as having exceptional artistic, cultural and historical value...
#391–#393 are located on Baengnyeong Island.
Overview
Baengnyeong Island is the westernmost point of South Korea. Travel time by boat to the island from Incheon is about four hours.Changsan Cape in Ryongyon
Ryongyon
Ryongyon is a county in western South Hwanghae province, North Korea. Its Yellow Sea coast is known for its natural beauty and as an important habitat for plants and birds...
, North Korea, can be seen from Baengnyeong on clear days.
Environment
The Chinese egretChinese Egret
The Chinese Egret or Swinhoe's Egret, Egretta eulophotes, is a full-crested, white egret with yellow bill. It breeds in Russia, North Korea, South Korea and mainland China, and then migrates south through Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia...
, 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.
Religion
Owing to the geographical location, ChristianityChristianity in Korea
The practice of Christianity in Korea revolves around two of its largest branches, Protestantism and Catholicism, accounting for 8.6 million and 5.1 million members respectively. Roman Catholicism was first introduced during the late Joseon Dynasty period...
went through Baengnyeong Island ahead of other Korean regions. After the Gabo Reform
Gabo Reform
The Gabo Reform describes a series of sweeping reforms introduced in Joseon Dynasty Korea beginning in 1894 and ending in 1896, during the reign of King Gojong, in response to the Donghak Peasant Revolution. Historians debate the degree of Japanese influence in this program, as well as its effect...
, 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.
Neighboring islands
Two smaller islands nearby are Daecheong IslandDaecheong Island
Daecheong Island is a 12.63 square km island in Ongjin County, Incheon, South Korea, located near the Northern Limit Line. The 1953 s:Korean Armistice Agreement which ended the Korean War specified that the five islands including Daecheong Island would remain under U.N. and South Korea control. ...
and the much smaller Socheong Island.
2010 Baengnyeong incident
The South Korean naval vessel ROKS CheonanROKS Cheonan (PCC-772)
ROKS Cheonan was a South Korean Pohang-class corvette of the Republic of Korea Navy , commissioned in 1989. On 26 March 2010, it broke in two and sank near the sea border with North Korea...
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.
External links
- Official site in English
- Official site (in Korean)
- 2nd official site (in Korean)
- "Baekryong, an Island Overlooking Jangsan Cape in North Korea"
- VR Panorama of 유승상
.