Wido Island
Panoramic View of Jeonggeumdo Island and Sikdo IslandThis photo shows Jeonggeumdo Island and Sikdo Island viewed from Jin-ri, Wido-myeon, Buan-gun.
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LocationWido-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Natural Environment
- Korean위도
- Chinese蝟島
- FieldGeography /Natural Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Name of Natural Place
- AreaBuan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- LocationWido-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- An island located in Wido-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Summary
- Wido Island was a key point of the naval forces in the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties and was a place of exile during the Joseon Dynasty. In 1896 (King Gojong, 33rd year), Wido Island was incorporated into Jido-gun, Jeollanam-do alongside Gogunsan Gundo Islands, when Jeolla-do was reorganized into Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do. Wido Island was incorporated into Yeonggwang-gun when Jido-gun disappeared in 1914. Since then, Wido Island had been incorporated into Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, and it has remained as it is now due to the reorganization of administrative district in 1963. Wido Island is a strategic point playing the role of an outpost in the West Coast. During the Joseon Dynasty, Naval Forces CheomJeoljesa were stationed there, taking charge of overall jurisdiction and administration.
- Origin of the Name
- It is known as Wido Island by putting the letter “Wi” (Hedgehog in Chinese), as the island resembles a hedgehog.
- Natural Environment
- Wido Island is located 126° 20' Longitude East and 35° 35' Latitude North. Regarding the geology of Wido Island, volcanic rocks (lava) erupting at the end of the Cretaceous during the Mesozoic period are the bed rocks. Wido Island stretches from northeast to southwest. Although the southeastern coast is almost a straight line, protrusions and small indents are developed in the northwestern coast so the coastlines are complex. Hilly mountainous areas approximately 200m high including Mangwolbong Peaks (255m) are developed. On the coast, tideland is distributed, and it snows a lot in winter. The average temperature in January and August is -0.2℃ and 25.5℃, and annual precipitation is 1,136㎜. Wido Island is the largest island in Jeollabuk-do, and its area is 11.14㎢, which is about 5 times larger than Yeouido with the coastline 36km long. Wido Island is 14km west of Gyeokpo Port in Byeonsan Peninsula. There are six human-residing islands and 24 inhibited islands around Wido Island, centered on Wido Island. Sikdo Island is to the north of Wido Island, and Wido Island is connected to Jeonggeumdo Island with embarkment. In addition, other dependent islets including Keunttanchido, Ttandalrae, and Georyundo Islands are located.
- Current Status
- Wido Island is located 14.6km west of Byeonsan Peninsula and is a main island in Wido-myeon, Buan-gun. The coastal road taking a turn around the sea starting from Pajanggeum where the ferry arrives is well-paved, and the road is about 20km long. The southern sea of Wido Island was a Chilsan fishing ground, the largest repository of croakers. When the Chilsan fishing ground prospered, over 5,000 people bustled in the Pajanggeum village. When croakers disappeared in the West Sea including the Chilsan fishing ground in the 1970s, many fishing boats are still operated, with the fishing ground of Spanish mackerels and pomfrets as well as mackerels becoming mainstream.
It takes 50 minutes from Wido Island to Gyeokpo Port in a passenger liner. Accessibility is good, because the island has all the features of an island, while it is close to land. There are rich and diverse foods caught from seas and tideland, and Wido Island was once famous as a seasonal croaker market. People can enjoy the tideland experience and mountain climbing. Wido Janggeum Port where the passenger liner arrives is the place where the passenger liner departing from Gyeokpo Port arrives first. When Pajanggeum Port prospered, there were 6 Japanese-run restaurants and 35 Korean-operated restaurants. It was called Pajanggeum because many fishing boats came and went, it was where fishing boats were evacuated when a storm came up and those boats also gathered when waves were rough. Or Pajanggeum has the meaning that gold, namely money, surges when waves crash.
Jin-ri village in Wido-myeon, Buan-gun where Wido-myeon office is located has rice paddies compared to other areas, so the residents are engaged in rice farming as well. In Jin-ri, Wido-myeon, administrative institutions and convenience facilities including Wido Middle School, Wido High School, post office, Nonghyup Hanaro Mart, and Wido branch of Public Health Center are situated. At the back of the Wido-myeon office is the foremr Wido government office. It is the Widojin government office building, a naval forces outpost, set up in 1682 (King Sukjong, 8th year). There is a small village before Pajanggeum in Jin-ri village, called Sireum. It was called Siru because the topography is shaped like rice cake streamers, and it is now called Sireum. A power station supplying power to the entire Wido Island is located in Sireum.
Beolgeum-ri, located 1km northwest of Jin-ri, is known as a village where people started to settle in the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty. Beolgeum-ri was a gateway of Wido Island in the past, and the village was formed as salt was produced in view of the low area. There is a several-hundred-year-old silver magnolia forest at the top of the hill near the village shrine. Wido Beach lies at the back of Beolgeum Dock. As a typical beach in Wido Beach famous for fine sand and clean water, it is renowned as a family vacation destination due to the shallow seawater. Located around the beach are Gipeungeum, Miyeonggeum, and Nongeum villages. In Dojanggeum village is a reservoir, the drinking water source of Wido Island residents, but there is no one residing in the village.
A village located at the part where the hedgehog’s tail starts, namely at the end of the northeast of Wido Islandand at the opposite tip of Pajanggeum Port, is Jeonmak-ri (Salmakgeum), a venue where people can experience tideland. In the village, people caught fish by casting a net in the morning and in the evening, and it is the origin of the village name Salmakgeum. If you go over the hill from Jeonmak-ri village, you will find Daeri village famous for Wido Ttibaennori. The village is situated 6km west of Jin-ri passing through Chido-ri. The village was called Daejeohang as the village is shaped like a big pig’s neck. Later, Daejeohang was called Daejang, and then Dae-ri by putting “Dae” (big) and “ri” (village). Although there used to be Daeri Elementary School in Dae-ri, it is now closed. Chido-ri is located 1km south of Jin-ri. It is passed down and called Chido-ri, because the Chido-ri village is shaped like a pheasant. Evan though agriculture is the main industry in Chido-ri, the seasonal fish market was open in the past as a hub of the Chilsan fishing ground. The reason is that the function as a port was lost as tideland is revealed during ebb tide.