Jeodo Island, closed to the public for 47 years because of its role as a presidential retreat, on Sept. 17 was reopened to the public on a pilot basis for a year. This photo shows President Moon Jae-in (middle) visiting the island on July 30 this year. (Cheong Wa Dae)
By Song Baleun and Kim Hwaya
Geoje | Sept. 17, 2019
Jeodo Island in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, which had been off limits to the public since 1972 because of its role as a presidential retreat, on Sept. 17 was reopened to the public for the first time in 47 years.
Jeodo, whose name is derived from its resemblance to a pig, requires only 1 1/2 hours to see all of this small island. Packed with camellias and black pine trees, it has served as a summer retreat for presidents starting with Rhee Syngman in 1954.
Jeodo got a reputation as a forbidden zone after President Park Chung-hee in 1972 officially designated the island a presidential retreat. Residents were relocated elsewhere and public access to the island was prohibited.
President Moon Jae-in, a Geoje native, had pledged to reopen the island to the public in his 2017 presidential campaign. Two Korea.net staff writers visited Gungnong Port in Geoje and took the first cruise ship to Jeodo since its reopening.
Banners marking the opening were seen from a nearby road facing the port.
(Song Baleun)
This banner marking the reopening of Jeodo Island to the public says, "An island with a presidential retreat! I'm open, too. Thank you, President Moon Jae-in."
After arriving at Gungnong Port at 2:30 p.m., hordes of tourists waited in line to ride the cruise ship. Many media staff also took pictures.
(Song Baleun)
Several of the people in the crowd had missed making reservations for the tour but came anyway to celebrate the reopening. Kim Hyo-sook, 63, chief of Sinchon Village in the township of Jangmok-myeon, said, "This is the moment that Jangmok-myeon residents have been expecting and looked forward to," and told the two Korea.net staff writers before they boarded the cruise ship, "Have a nice trip."
About 30 minutes later, the ship arrived on Jeodo. Tourists followed a guide and strolled on a path President Moon Jae-in had walked on in July this year.
(Song Baleun)
"The nature here has been well preserved because public access to the island has been prohibited," said Kim Mi-choon, a cultural tourism guide. The visiting group then passed princess and black pine trees more than 300 years old.
After ten minutes of walking, the wide-open view of an observatory emerged.
(Song Baleun)
Geogadaegyo Bridge across the blue sea made for a fabulous view. The guide Kim told tourists taking pictures, "This view of Geogadaegyo Bridge is one of the most scenic along this walking path," adding, "This is where President Moon Jae-in also enjoyed the view in July."
The next destination was Yonleejee Garden, which featured the unique fusion of a Walter's dogwood tree and a pine tree.
(Geoje City)
Another spot with a wide expanse of green grass was a historical golf course for presidents. The tour group walked along the same path where their leaders had traveled on the green field covering about 66,000 m² before reaching the final spot on the tour, the beach.
(Geoje City)
People stopped for a moment to touch the sand and feel a light wind while sitting on the beach. Korea.net staff writers also wrote phrases on the spot in the sand where former President Park Geun-hye wrote "Memory of Jeodo Island" in 2013.
Jeodo Island is open to the public on a pilot basis for a year until Sept. 16 next year. The cruise ship operates 5 days a week and twice a day at 10:20 a.m. and 2:20 p.m., and is closed Mondays and Thursdays. Visitors can access the walking path, the sand beach and the garden but the presidential retreat Cheonghaedae and military facilities remain off limits.
Tour reservations can be made by calling the cruise ship operator at 82-55-636-7033~3022 or via the website http://jeodo.co.kr (Korean) at least 2 days before visiting.
brightsong@korea.kr
