From Geomundo to Dokdo... A Maritime History Linked by Islands

The 2026 World Island Exhibition Yeosu Korea said on the 25th that, marking Dokdo Day (the 25th), it had created an opportunity to reflect on the historical significance of Dokdo and the value of islands.
Dokdo Day commemorates October 25, 1900, when the Korean Empire designated Dokdo as being under the jurisdiction of Ulleungdo through Imperial Decree No. 41. Dokdo has been defended through the efforts of people who made the sea their home, including Ahn Yong-bok and the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison.
Residents of Geomundo and Chodo in Yeosu are also said to have crossed the sea in the past to fish as far as Ulleungdo and Dokdo. Records by Lee Gyu-won, who surveyed Ulleungdo in 1882, document logging and fishing activities by people from Jeolla Province. An account by Kim Byeong-sun, a Geomundo resident, records that sea mustard was harvested and sea lions hunted on Dokdo.
This history linking island to island shows that Dokdo is connected not only to territorial significance but also to the lives of people who have lived by traveling across the sea.
The Island Theme Zone at the exhibition grounds features major Korean islands, including Dokdo, islands off Yeosu, Gapado and Cheongsando Island. The World Islands zone will also feature Chile's Easter Island, Madagascar, the Azores and the Maldives.
The organizing committee plans to present the nature, culture and history of islands from Korea and abroad in one place, share their value and raise awareness of the need to preserve them.
Kim Jong-gi, secretary-general of the organizing committee, said, "I hope Dokdo Day will provide an opportunity to reflect on the significance of our islands at the exhibition and sustain a warm interest in islands."
[email protected] Sun-Min Jung Reporter