Seonyudo, Gunsan

About

Seonyudo (Hanja, lit. 'island where the immortals play') is an island in Okdo-myeon, Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, South Korea. The island has an area of 2.12 km2, which is only about a quarter of Yeouido in Seoul. The island's coast is about 12.8 km long. It has long been famed for its beauty; its name means "island where the immortals play", which implicitly assumes its beauty was fit for the gods. It is a popular tourist attraction, and is known for its white sandy beaches, waterfall, and scenic mountains. Seonyudo was the capital of the Gogunsan Islands. It also served as a naval command post during the Joseon Dynasty. Admiral Yi Sun-shin played an important role during the Imjin War, spending days on the islands to prepare for his next battle after winning the Battle of Myeongnyang.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.