Yeongheung Island
Encyclopedia
Yeongheung Island is an island
in the Yellow Sea
, within the municipal borders of Incheon
metropolitan city. It has a population
of roughly 4000 people and an area of 23.46 km². The island is connected by road to neighbouring Seonjae-do (Hangeul:선재도) (and thus to Daebu Island
and the mainland) by the 1.25 km-long Yeongheung Bridge, which opened in December 2001. Administratively, the island today is divided into ten li: Nae-ri (내리) 1 to 7, and Oi-ri (외리) 1 to 3. Employment is provided through tourism
, fishing
, and the thermoelectric power station, largely built on reclaimed land on the south-west coast of the island.
and up to 1914, Yeongheung Island was included in the old jurisdiction of Namyang County. In 1914 it was transferred to Bucheon
, and in 1973 to Ongjin County
, which became part of Incheon
metropolitan city in 1995.
Yeongheung Island is featured strongly in the first-hand account The Secrets of Inchon: The Untold Story of the Most Daring Covert Mission of the Korean War. According to The Secrets of Inchon, Yeongheung Island was used for a reconnaissance/commando mission led by Commander Eugene F. Clark to surveil the regions along the Flying Fish Channel, including Wolmi Island, Daebu Island
and Muuido
, among others. This expedition preceded and allowed for the successful Battle of Incheon.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
, within the municipal borders of 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...
metropolitan city. It has a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of roughly 4000 people and an area of 23.46 km². The island is connected by road to neighbouring Seonjae-do (Hangeul:선재도) (and thus to Daebu Island
Daebu Island
Daebu Island is an island in the Yellow Sea, within the municipal borders of Ansan city, Gyeonggi province. It has a population of roughly 7,114 people and an area of 41.98 km². Due to rising mudflats, the island has merged with neighbouring Seongam-do and Tan-do...
and the mainland) by the 1.25 km-long Yeongheung Bridge, which opened in December 2001. Administratively, the island today is divided into ten li: Nae-ri (내리) 1 to 7, and Oi-ri (외리) 1 to 3. Employment is provided through tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and the thermoelectric power station, largely built on reclaimed land on the south-west coast of the island.
History
During the Joseon DynastyJoseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
and up to 1914, Yeongheung Island was included in the old jurisdiction of Namyang County. In 1914 it was transferred to Bucheon
Bucheon
Bucheon is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It is sandwiched between Incheon and Seoul. Manufacturing operations are located in the city.Bucheon promotes itself as the cultural centre of the Seoul Metropolitan Area...
, and in 1973 to Ongjin County
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...
, which became part of 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...
metropolitan city in 1995.
Yeongheung Island is featured strongly in the first-hand account The Secrets of Inchon: The Untold Story of the Most Daring Covert Mission of the Korean War. According to The Secrets of Inchon, Yeongheung Island was used for a reconnaissance/commando mission led by Commander Eugene F. Clark to surveil the regions along the Flying Fish Channel, including Wolmi Island, Daebu Island
Daebu Island
Daebu Island is an island in the Yellow Sea, within the municipal borders of Ansan city, Gyeonggi province. It has a population of roughly 7,114 people and an area of 41.98 km². Due to rising mudflats, the island has merged with neighbouring Seongam-do and Tan-do...
and Muuido
Muuido
Muuido, also known as Muui Island, is an island in South Korea. It is a small island located south of Yongyu Island, which was joined with Yeongjong Island when the Incheon International Airport was built. Muui Island is visible from the airport...
, among others. This expedition preceded and allowed for the successful Battle of Incheon.
Attractions
Yeongheung Island has several sandy beaches, most notably Nae-ri (내리) on the east coast, Simripo (십리포) in the north-east, along the edge of which lies a grove of Carpinus coreana, and Jeonggyeong-ri (정경리) in the north-west.See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- Islands of South Korea
- Geography of South KoreaGeography of South KoreaSouth Korea is located in East Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula jutting out from the far east of the Asian land mass. The only country with a land border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with of border running along the DMZ. South Korea is mostly surrounded by...