The geography and climate of Geoje Island is particularly well suited to building ships, thanks to its deep, secluded harbor area and temperature that never falls below zero, even in midwinter. With its deep water and many islands, the surrounding ocean is always calm. Little wonder, then, that the area is famous for shipbuilding, as well as tourism. Many of the shipbuilding yards of major maritime companies in Korea can be found clustered around here, helping the city have one of the highest average per capita income in Korea.

So, let’s take a look at Geoje Island of Korea, an all-round beautiful natural environment, with abundant foods and different industries

Geoje POW Camp was built to accommodate prisoners from the Korean War that broke out on June 25, 1950 following the invasion by North Korea. At its height, the camp accommodated 170,000 prisoners. Today, there is a bridge that connects the land to Geoje Island, but in the war it was only possible to get to Geoje Island by ship. Thanks to being so far from where the war broke out and being able to isolate the prisoners, Geoje Island was selected as a suitable place to accommodate POWs. This historic site today exhibits pictures of how the prisoners lived and the things they used as part of its mission to share information about the history of the Korean War. It also provides the traces of the prisoners’ study of skills such as nursing, architecture and dressmaking, and the records of them obtaining political knowledge. Even though the tragic war broke out due to different political ideologies, I hope that many people can have proper historical knowledge through this museum and can further develop an interest in history. (Source of pictures: Geoje POW Camp website - www.pow.or.kr)

This place, whose pretty name sounds like a movie title, is a small hill on the coast with soft green grass that stretches out into the distance. The name ‘Windy Hill’ originates from the winds that blow so strongly that people struggle to keep their balance. If you climb up the high steps to the top of the hill, you can see the wonderful landscape of Geoje Island seashore in wind that will surely give you a jolt. It is an amazing place with a blissful harmony of the small hill around, the blue ocean beneath and the scene afar. I recommend you visit this place early in the morning on a weekday if you want to enjoy the wind and meditation peacefully, because it is crowded with visitors enjoying the wind and scenery on holidays and weekends.

Sinseondae, so named because of its incredible landscape that fascinates people and causes them to settle down, creates spectacular scenery with shore cliffs and oddly formed rocks and stones. With wide and flat rocks, this place was so peaceful and beautiful that I could easily see how people would stay and rest for a while in the wind. As I watched the golden sunset created by the horizon and various islands afar from the top of the cliff, I felt my concerns all melt away.

Another unique landscape of Geoje Island is the Pebble Beach (Mongdol Beach). ‘Mongdol’ brings to mind the round stone. The beach is filled with small black pebbles, rather than the white sand commonly found on beaches. It is also referred to as ‘Black Pearl Beach’ since the black pebbles, all worn out by the waves for a long time, look a lot like black pearls. When I walked barefoot on the beach, it was not soft and smooth like sand; yet, the pebbles, all bumpy and cold, felt uniquely refreshing. Another thing that the Pebble Beach boasts is the unique distinctive sound that the waves and pebbles create. The sound of the waves hitting the pebbles is so clear and striking that it is beyond something an instrument could fathom. This beach looks stunning on a bright sunny day, but you can also visit the Pebble Beach on a rainy or windy day. You will be surprised to see a view that is completely different from the sea you have imagined.

Oedo is a marine park accessible by boat from the Jangseungpo Ferry Terminal of Geoje Island. Favored by a moderate and temperate climate, the environment is well-suited to rearing plants and the place features a variety of flowers and trees that cannot be commonly found on land. This island is owned by a couple who have spent their lives growing countless varieties of plants. They were fishing nearby in July 1969 and were marooned on the island for a night due to the wind and waves, which led them to become the owners of this island. Fascinated by the camellia flowers that had grown for hundreds of years on the island and the beautiful nature, they bought this island over three years. Ever then, they have worked to turn Oedo into the best marine park by growing trees and flowers there for more than 30 years. I could not help but feel respect for their extraordinary passion and courage, without which it would not have been possible to make such a wonderful park.

The reason why I came to love Oedo, aside from its exotic trees and buildings, is because I can enjoy the resplendent view of flowers there, even in midwinter. I can feel the spring again in the early winter sea thanks to the hydrangeas that are already fallen in Seoul, as well as the camellia flowers that have just begun to bloom in Oedo, and various other wildflowers that like to grow in the sea breeze.

Haegeumgang is a place viewable from on a boat, and it is also referred to as Mt. Geumgangsan of the sea because of its sharp cliffs and beautiful valleys. It looks like a huge mountain from afar, but there is a cross-shaped cliff formed at its center. On a sunny day with calm waves, you can reach to the center of the valley by boat and glimpse the narrow and high canyons that abound. I was lucky to visit Haegeumgang on a bright and sunny day and I could see the valley clearly by boat. I can still remember the clear ocean and refreshing wind.

It was all the more magnificent to see the interesting shapes of rocks that had been shaped by the waves, such as Candlestick Rock, Lion Rock and Bride and Groom Rocks, as well as the coastal cliffs that rose high from out of the sea. I could not help but marvel at the greatness of nature that creates scenery that is more incredible and harmonious than any work of art. I rounded off my trip by enjoying the clear and blue ocean, high and long coastal cliffs and the refreshing wind.

How wonderful it is to enjoy a pleasant wind and see beautiful flowers in only a thin shirt at Geoje Island, while I had had to go to work bundled up in a coat yesterday in Seoul! I felt even happier to be traveling the southern island of Korea. The landscape and weather are always both great there, but another charm of Geoje Island is the rich selection of seafood. You can find ingredients and meals that are expensive and rare in the city, but are available on Geoje Island fresh and at a reasonable price. Oysters, which are in season, show off their strong and good taste and flavor, no matter how you eat them: raw with red pepper paste sauce, slightly roasted, or steamed. Oyster restaurants that open only during this season were so packed with people that people were lined up outside to get in to eat. Feel the warm southern breeze at Geoje Island, where you can enjoy both taste and glamor. It will be a good opportunity to wash away the fatigue from your body and mind, and refresh yourself with positive energy.