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Geoje

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Overview

Wikivoyage guide · 23 sections

▸Introduction336 chars

Geoje (거제, 巨濟, also Geoje-do, pronounced "Go-je"), formerly romanised as Koje, is an island in South Gyeongsang province, South Korea. The key attraction of the island is its natural coastal beauty. Outside of the two cities it is a near-endless series of calm blue beached coves and sheer pine-forested grey cliffs overlooking the sea.

▸Understand1,295 chars

Dubbing itself the "Blue City", Geoje is more of an island than a city. It is in fact Korea's second largest island (only Jeju is larger) with a loose collection of villages and settlements scattered in coves around the coastline. The two largest of these are Okpo (옥포) on the east coast and Gohyeon (고현) on the west. Most of the tourist sites lie between these two settlements around, and just off, the southern coastline. The intercity bus terminal is in Gohyeon but services also run from the odd remote bus stop.

Geoje has played a significant role in Korea's naval history. The coast of Okpo is the setting for one of Korea's greatest military victories over Japan during the early stages of the 1592-1598 Imjin War. United under Admiral Yi Sun-sin, Korean armor-plated turtleships repelled Japanese attackers from taking the Jeolla region. Although this ultimately did not stop the war in its tracks, it did slow the invasion a little and provided a morale boost to the nation.

Today, Geoje is a shipbuilding powerhouse hosting both Samsung and HanwhaOcean shipyards. Despite the large number of foreign residents employed to supervise these facilities and subsequent notably high foreign presence in Okpo and Gohyeon, English signage on the island varies between minimal and non-existent.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia2,351 words

Introduction

City in South Gyeongsang, South Korea Municipal city in South KoreaGeoje 거제시Municipal cityKorean transcription(s) • Hangul거제시 • Hanja巨濟市 • Revised RomanizationGeoje-si • McCune–ReischauerKŏje-siView overlooking Okpodong and harbor in Geoje FlagEmblem of GeojeNickname: Blue City GeojeLocation in South KoreaCountry South KoreaProvince South GyeongsangAdministrative divisions9 myeon, 10 dongGovernment • MayorGwang Yong Byeon [ko] (D-SG)Area • Total402.3 km2 (155.3 sq mi)Population (September 2024) • Total232,921 • Density547/km2 (1,420/sq mi) • DialectGyeongsangDemonymGeojeiteWebsiteGeoje City Website Geoje (Korean: 거제; Korean pronunciation: [kʌ̹.dʑe̞]) is a city located in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is located near Busan. Hanwha Ocean in Okpo and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in Gohyeon are both located on Geoje Island. The city also offers a wide range of tourist sights. The city is made up of a number of islands, of which by far the largest is Geoje Island. There are multiple dong in the city: Jangpyeongdong, Okpo-dong and Gohyeon.

More in sights0

With the completion of the dual bridges and tunnel that comprise the Busan-Geoje direct expressway link, access by both express bus and car has become significantly faster and easier.

▸By air199 chars

There is no airport in Geoje, although Gimhae International Airport (PUS IATA) is closer than Busan. Flying into Gimhae from the south (e.g. Hong Kong, Shanghai) provides great aerial views of Geoje.

▸By bus1,074 chars

Buses leave approximately half-hourly from the Busan Seobu bus terminal and take 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach Okpo via the new bridge (in reality it's actually a bit shorter) for ₩9000 (as 9f 2025). Where the bus drops you off is often not where you can pick it up again. Services to Okpo for example will simply drop you at a local bus shelter outside the Geoje Museum from where you cannot return. To escape the island, you must make your way to the Gohyeon Intercity Bus Terminal to get to Busan. Alternately, the area around Windy Hill has an obscure intercity link to Masan that runs every two hours until 20:00.

There is also an express bus route from Busan Seobu to Jangseungpo that takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. The bus terminal is a little far from the ferry piers and with no clear directions, so you should take a taxi (₩4,800(Basic taxi fare), 5-minute ride).

Intercity buses also still serve Geoje from Masan via Tongyeong (and also Busan, although this route being now superseded is likely to be phased out) taking roughly two hours and one hour respectively.

▸By ferry193 chars

The coast of Geoje is littered with ports, but all ferry services to and from Busan have been discontinued due to the convenience of the new Expressway, and most people now drive or take a bus.

▸By car261 chars

Private cars can take the toll expressway(₩10,000 will be charged) from Busan to Geoje. One key advantage to this is that you can take a brief break at a rest stop constructed on a man-made peninsula beside the undersea tunnel — the view from there is stunning.

▸By car409 chars

This is the transport of choice for Korean visitors and the most practical way of getting around. Daegeoje-ro (대거제로) is a highway that loops the island following the cliffs closely and offering near continual spectacular views of the ocean and coastline as well as passing by practically every attraction.

Although the taxi stand is limited, you can take a taxi from anywhere if you use the call taxi function

▸By public bus1,765 chars

Geoje has an extensive local "inner-city" (cough) public bus service catering towards locals. For tourists, it is a disaster, plain and simple. There is no single service that takes the Daegeoje-ro around the entirety of the island. Instead, the island is divided into a bunch of color-coded regions matching up with number-coded buses (for example, 10-19 and a yellow color represent greater Okpo, Jangseungpo, and parts of Gohyeon). The catch here is that there is only one stop where adjacent service regions match up and it's not announced nor explicitly signposted. And then if you do find it (it is almost never on Daegeoje-ro but instead on a small unmarked detour off the road) there may be more stops than there are sides of the road with no signage in English nor Korean pointing you towards which services your next region. Outside of the two cities, services are infrequent enough to be unforgiving and furthermore, simply stop at sundown stranding you wherever you may be.

Full maps of the bus system in Korean exist on roughly every second bus stop as well as online. If you attempt to tackle the full system, try to pay attention to the colors first, then the individual numbers. The square is not where you are now but the Gohyeon Intercity Terminal.

The most important route is the number 11 anyway and this is a frequent (roughly every 15 minutes) service that passes through the major cities and Jangseungpo Port. In theory, it should be possible to loop the island using the number 11 to pass through the two cities, then transferring on to a blue coded 50-series bus for the rest.

If you do manage to figure the system out, bus fees are ₩1,700 in cash, or ₩1,650 using a transport card. The Seoul T-money card can also be used for paying fares.

▸By tour bus1,372 chars

A private company, Geojerotour runs a tourbus service following Daegeoje-ro.

There is a Blue City Tour that will take you around the main attractions. Advance bookings are recommended. It has the following four routes:

Blue City Tour Route #1

Geoje Shipbuilding Marine Cultural Center (조선해양문화관) → Oedo Haegeumgang (외도 해금강) → Hakdong Mongdol Beach (학동흑진주몽돌해변) → The Hill of Wind (바람의언덕) → Sinseondae Cliff (신선대) → Samsung Heavy Industries (삼성중공업) → Historic Park of Geoje POW Camp (포로수용소 유적공원)

Blue City Tour Route #2

Geoje Shipbuilding Marine Cultural Center (조선해양문화관) → Oedo Haegeumgang (외도 해금강) → Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (대우조선해양) → Kim Young Sam Presidential Archives & Exhibit Hall (김영삼 대통령 기록전시관) → Okpo Daecheop Memorial Park (옥포대첩기념공원)

Blue City Tour Route #3

Sanbangsan Beewon (산방산비원) → Birthplace of Cheongma, Yu Chi-hwan (청마생가) → Geoje Giseonggwan/Jilcheong (Government Office) (거제기성관/질청) → The Hill of Wind (바람의언덕) → Sinseondae Cliff (신선대) → Hakdong Mongdol Beach (학동흑진주몽돌해변) → Oedo Haegeumgang (외도 해금강) → Historic Park of Geoje POW Camp (포로수용소 유적공원)

Blue City Tour Route #4

The Hill of Wind (바람의언덕) → Sinseondae Cliff (신선대) → Hakdong Mongdol Beach (학동흑진주몽돌해변) → Geoje Shipbuilding Marine Cultural Center (조선해양문화관) → Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (대우조선해양) → Historic Park of Geoje POW Camp (포로수용소유적공원) → Geojedo Sea Spa (거제도해수온천)

▸By ferry1,306 chars

Many of Geoje's attractions are located on smaller island and islets just off the coast so ferry usage is mandatory to get to them. Specifically, close vantage of Haegeumgang and access to Oedo and Camellia Islands require it.

Each port along the south coast hosts a different ferry company with services to Haegeumgang and Oedo, however, even if just visiting Haegeumgang you will likely be railroaded into a 1½-hour stopover at Oedo. What you cannot do is use the ferry to travel between coastal ports as you must leave Oedo with the same company with whom you arrived.

(You will be assigned a badge upon boarding that identifies you with that ferry. You could in theory swap with someone else on the island, although unlikely since most visitors are with Korean tour groups.)

In practice, ferries departing from Jangseungpo Port are the most useful as this is just one bus away from Okpo (take the #11 to the Art Centre). You can also travel to Jangseungpo town from Busan Seobu directly.

Furthermore, access to Camellia Island appears possibly limited to Jangseungpo port. Journeys to Haegeumgang and Oedo from Jangseungpo start from 08:30 in the morning.

The ferry journeys depend on the weather. It is possible that some portions of the journey (or the whole journey) may canceled due to bad weather.

▸On foot353 chars

With settlements spaced approximately 5–20 km apart, walking between individual attractions would mostly be a foolish endeavor. However, one can easily traverse Okpo and the nearby Great Victory Park on foot (likely faster than bus in fact). Similarly, the area around Windy Hill on the peninsula leading up to Haegeumgang can easily be covered on foot.

▸See5,177 chars

1 Haegeumgang (해금강), San 1, Galgot-ri, Nambu-myeon (via ferry cruise from any port on the southeast coast.), ☏ +82 55-639-3399. 09:30-16:20 (First departure-Last departure). Designated "Korean National Scenic Site #2, this is a must-see location. Essentially just a locally famed island consisting of tall cliffs. However, the ferry cruise around the island will thread its way through the extremely thin cliffs leading into the island into a sea cave before backing out and departing through different route. Spectacular. Round-trip 3-hour cruises including both Haegeumgang and a 3½-hour stopover on Oedo from Jangseungpo. ₩28,000 for an adult and ₩20,000 for a child. A ₩1000 discount applies in the off-peak season. Admittance on to Oedo incurs an extra fee and inability to pay will leave you at the boat twiddling your thumbs.

2 Oedo Island (외도), Ilwoon-myeon (take a ferry from any port on the southeast coast.). Typically included in cruises to Haegumgang, this is Korea's first privately owned island and host to the Oedo Botanica. It's somewhat of a cross between a botanical garden and one of East Asia's infamous "country-themed theme parks" and designed to make you think you're somewhere in the Mediterranean. Beautifully landscaped and covered with Greco-Roman statues. It's a bit prettier than the brochure describes as the gardens follow a tight valley surrounded by sheer cliffs. Take a detour to the bathroom as the off-the-path views from outside a couple of them are among the best on the island. Conceived by a couple that crossed the 38th parallel after the war quite literally penniless. Worth the trip and has a restaurant and coffee shop at the highest point that mostly only serves tea (Udon ₩4000, coffee ₩4000, tea ₩2500). Admittance ₩8000 adults, ₩4000 children. (updated Sep 2025)

Camellia Island, Okrim-ri, Ilwoon-myeon (take a ferry from Jangseungpo Port.). It is also called Dongbaek Island because camellia trees occupy 60-70% of the island's total area. It is located 6km east of Jiseong Island. During the reign of King Hyeonjong in the Joseon Dynasty, 15 generations of residents migrated and lived, and during the Japanese colonial period, a Japanese company was stationed as a military fortress until just before liberation. From a distance, it resembles the shape of a warship and a high sea fog developed on the southern coast. Ships operate three times a day at Jangseungpo Port. (updated Sep 2025)

Great Victory Park, 87 Palangpo 2-gil (a short drive northeast of Okpo around the coast, or a 2½-km walk around the coastline; from Okpo walk towards the port in the direction of the abandoned theme park atop the cliffs and follow the scenic boardwalk around the coast; at one well-signposted point the path will cross a road; turn right here.). Closes 18:00. A war memorial for the 1592-1593 naval battle against the Japanese. Next door lies a shrine to Admiral Yi who lead the Korean forces to victory, plus a small museum explaining the details of the war and Korean naval strategies. English explanations exist, although when browsing try to keep count of how often you read extremely biased language (answer: a lot). Free. (updated Sep 2025)

Windy Hill and Shinseondae (바람의 언덕과 신선대), San 14-47, Galgot-ri, Nambu-myeon. A picturesque cliff side hill with a windmill on one side and a bunch of purple-green cliffs you can climb down on to on the other side. There is also a Theme Museum here. The themes are "Korean modern life" and "European decorative art" (aka mannequins of pirates). The intercity buses to Tongyeong and Masan depart from here. (updated Sep 2025)

3 Maemiseong (Maemi fortress), San 14-47 Seongpo-ri, Jangmok-myeon (By car/By Bus). Maemiseong (Korean: 매미성, lit. Maemi Fortress) is a privately built stone fortress in Jangmok-myeon. It was created by a local resident, Park Myeong-jong, who began stacking stones after Typhoon Maemi struck the southern coast in 2003 and caused severe damage. The name of the structure derives from the typhoon itself.The fortress is notable for its resemblance to a medieval European castle, featuring stone walls, towers, and ramparts. It was constructed without professional equipment or architectural expertise, relying solely on individual effort over many years. Perched on a hillside, Maemiseong offers panoramic views of the sea and has become a distinctive attraction in Geoje. Visitors are drawn to the site not only for its unusual architecture but also for its scenic setting, particularly at sunrise and sunset.Maemiseong is open to the public year-round without fixed opening hours or admission fees. It is especially popular among photographers and tourists seeking a unique backdrop, and it is often visited together with other nearby destinations such as Geoga Bridge, Windy Hill, and Oedo Botania.The fortress is open year-round, 24 hours a day, with no admission fee, making it an accessible destination at any time.Beyond its role as a sightseeing spot, Maemiseong carries symbolic meaning. It represents resilience and determination in the aftermath of natural disaster, standing as a local landmark that embodies perseverance and hope. (updated Sep 2025)

▸Culture829 chars

Geoje Art Center, Geoje Culture and Arts Center, 145 Jangseung-ro (take the number 11 bus from Okpo), ☏ +82 507-1411-1097. It is a comprehensive cultural facility that opened in 2003 and serves as a hub for local arts and culture. Equipped with a grand theater, small theater, exhibition halls, and rehearsal rooms, it offers a wide range of programs including performances, exhibitions, and educational activities. The building’s design, inspired by a sailing ship overlooking Jangseungpo Port, reflects both regional identity and architectural symbolism. Operated by the Geoje Cultural Foundation, it provides high-quality cultural experiences for both citizens and visitors. Especially through participatory programs like the Arts Academy, it plays a key role in expanding cultural engagement in the region. (updated Sep 2025)

▸Hike686 chars

Being Korea, Geoje is covered with hiking trails.

If just looking for a casual stroll, the 4-km-long trail from Okpo to Deokpo is very pleasant and consists of trails along the coast through pine forest and segments along a red boardwalk where you can see older ladies foraging for shellfish for the local restaurants. Passes by the Great Victory Park and Deokpo at the end hosts a couple of hoe 회 (sashimi) restaurants and a coffee shop for refreshments. One of the restaurants doesn't welcome foreigners, but the one two doors down does and is actually quite literally signposted that way. Starting point is at the north end of Okpo port, look for the ruined theme park on the cliffs.

▸Swim554 chars

Geoje has a tonne of swimming beaches around its coast.

Hakdong Black Pearl Pebble Beach. Just a rocky pebble beach.

Deokpo Beach. A very small sand beach just outside Okpo.

Gujora and Wahyeon Beaches (take the #11 to Jangseunpo Port and get off at the Geoje Art Centre; walk down to the ferry terminal and switch to the #22 there). A pair of large sand beaches overlooking some pine-covered islets. Gujora town is rather interesting too as the locals have undertaken a project to paint art on every wall in the town yielding rather pretty results.

▸Buy687 chars

Yuzu. It is a specialty of Geoje, a citrus fruit with a cultivation history of more than 400 years. Thanks to the mild maritime climate and abundant sunshine, Geoje’s yuzu is known for its rich aroma and well-balanced sweet and sour taste, as well as its high vitamin C content. It is most commonly enjoyed as yuzu tea made with honey or sugar, but is also used in dressings, sauces, jams, candies, and other processed foods. During the autumn harvest season, the fragrant scent of yuzu spreads across the island, making it not only an important source of income for local farmers but also one of Geoje’s representative specialties. (₩12,900 for 2 kg on the internet). (updated Sep 2025)

▸Eat554 chars

Being a largely coastal destination, hoe 회 (raw fish, similar to sashimi) restaurants are plentiful and delicious.

Furthermore, Geoje city council proclaims the island has 8 signature dishes:

Dodari Ssukguk (도다리 쑥국)

Meonggeye and Seonggeye Bibimbap (멍게 선게 비빔밥)

Gul Gui (굴구이) - An oyster dish.

Eo Juk (어 죽)

Sliced Raw Fish (생성회) - Sashimi.

Mulmegi Tang (물메기탕)

Bolrak Gui (볼락구이)

Daegu Tang (대구탕)

Geoje also has a large migrant population, so you can also find many international restaurants that may be hard to come by elsewhere in Korea. (e.g. Pakistani)

▸Drink86 chars

The usual array of bars and hofs exist in the major townships of Okpo, Gohyeon and Aju

▸Budget282 chars

A jjimjilbang exists in Okpo roughly halfway between Geoje Museum and Okpo Port. Naturally, expect sauna access, cotton pajamas and a bunch of blankets to sleep on the heated floor. Look for the neon sign. Price is ₩11,000 a night, and the sleeping facilities are larger than usual.

▸Mid-range355 chars

The townships all contain the usual array of motels. Further to this, outside of the larger towns, minbak (homestays for tourists) are scattered around the coast, often attached to restaurants.

The Beach House, ☏ +82 1052933775, beach-house@waegooktravel.com. Family (or group) friendly guest house across the road from Wahyeon Beach. (updated Oct 2021)

▸Splurge197 chars

Being largely a resort island, large hotels are everywhere.

Geoje Island Hotel, Okpo (Right beside the port in Okpo.), ☏ +82 55-687-7111. Recommended by locals and heavily marketed hotel in Okpo.

▸Go next335 chars

The two bridges from the island lead to Tongyeong and Busan, each approximately an hour away and with bus links to Tongyeong typically stopping briefly before continuing on to Masan.

From Tongyeong or Masan, the beautiful riverside fortress and delicious food of Jinju or the dinosaur fossil towns of Goseong are a short bus ride away.

[edit] Geoje is Korean for "great rescue", from the syllables geo (Korean: 거; Hanja: 巨) meaning great, and je (제; 濟) meaning rescue.

History

[edit] Geoje has a history stretching back thousands of years. Various artifacts dating back to the Neolithic era have been found at archaeological digs on Naedo, Sandaldo, and Isudo. While no written history can be found from this era, the digs show evidence of numerous small establishments along the coasts. The first written mention of Geoje appears as, Geoje being one of two main divisions of the Dokro kingdom, a member of the Byeonhan confederacy (circa 0-300 AD). The Byeonhan confederacy slowly gave way to the Gaya confederacy(42-562 AD). The Gaya eventually submitted to the Kingdom of Silla. In 757, Gyeongdeok of Silla classified the island as "Geoje-gun" "거제군" (Geoje county). Modern Geoje is classified as a "si" (시) (city). In 1170, Uijong of Goryeo secretly escaped to Geoje when Chŏng Chung-bu raised a rebellion against him, instating his brother, Myeongjong as king. Geoje served as a strategic location in preparation of the naval forces for the Gihae Eastern Expedition (기해동정) of Tsushima Island in 1419 by the Korean general Yi Chongmu. At the time of the Seven-Year War in 1592, admiral Yi Sun-sin gained a great naval victory against Japanese invaders near the town of Okpo in Geoje. Since then. Yi was referred to by his noble title, "Chung Mu Gong," which roughly translates into English as "Earner of Great National Respect." In the Korean War (1950–53), the military government of General Douglas MacArthur used the island as a place for the settlement for 170,000 POWs, and a Prisoner of war camp measuring at 11.8 square kilometres (4.6 mi2) was established during these years. The prison was rife with human rights abuses, including summary execution and the widespread use of torture against prisoners by Canadian and American troops. British journalist Alan Winnington and Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett conducted extensive research to document these human rights abuses, and jointly published their findings in 1952. After the war, a portion (23,000 m2) was converted into a tourist attraction. During the last few decades Geoje has emerged as leader in the shipbuilding industries. Due to the continued industry, Geoje largely escaped the negative impacts of the Asian market crash of 1997. Some notable people from Geoje include: Former President Kim Young-sam Poet Yu Chi-hwan, better known by his pen-name Cheongma. Former President Moon Jae-in Woni from the K-Pop group Rescene

Demographics

[edit] According to the whitebook published by Geoje City in May 2014, Geoje had a population of 243,736, 12,240 of which are foreigners (non-Koreans). A significant portion of the population depends on shipbuilding to support their livelihood, and this can be evidenced by the fact that nearly 33% of workers are employed in the shipbuilding industry. The population of Geoje Island is 232,807 as of October 2024.

Tourism

[edit] Geoje offers a variety of attractions, including Haegeumgang island, Oedo, a marine western-style botanical garden in Hallyeo-Haesang National Park, built by Lee Chang-ho and his wife when they settled on the island in 1969. Visitors visit by ferry boat from the harbor neighboring the islands. Tourists also visit Jisim-do for trekking. Jisim is known for its Camellia vegetation. However, the Maemi typhoon in 2003 severely affected the island's plant life. Another popular tourist attraction at Haegeumgang-do (located southeast of Geoje) is the Sipja Donggul Cave. Buddhist and Shamanist sculptures can be found in the cave. Geoje is the second largest island in Korea, so discovering these locations is most easily done using a tourist map. Geoje Tourist Map Historic and cultural Sites[edit] Geoje POW Camp[edit] Geoje POW Camp (거제도포로수용소) was a prisoner of war detention camp for captured North Koreans established during the Korean War from (1951). It was the site of a prison riot on May 8, 1952, which is the topic of Chinese-American writer Ha Jin's fictional War Trash. Gohyeon Castle[edit] Geoje Gohyeon Castle Gohyeon Castle is named the 46th national treasure of South Gyeongsang Province. Gohyeon Castle (고현성) and is located in Gohyeondong, Geoje. It was established during the Joseon period in 1451. In the famous Joseon era geography book, Donggukyeojiseungram (동국여지승람), it was recorded that the Gohyeon castle had a circumference of 3,038 Cheok (척) (equivalent to about 9.2 km or 5.7 mi), and had a height of 13 Cheok (3.93 m (12.9 ft)). It was considered the largest castle in the South Sea. Geoje Township Government Office[edit] Geoje Government Office The Geoje Township Government Office is regarded as Korea's 84th cultural treasure. During the time of the Japanese invasions, the office was established in 1470 to administer all military and shipbuilding plans. Oksangeum Fortress Area[edit] Oksangeum Fortress The Oksangeum Fortress Area (옥산금성지) was an unsanctioned fortress built on the Sujeong peak to defend against Japanese invasion. Due to the strain it placed on the people during the building, the magistrate responsible was dismissed. Oksangeum Fortress is regarded as the South Gyeongsang Province's 10th cultural treasure. Pyewang Fortress[edit] Pyewangseong in Dundeok is the oldest fortress in Geoje. Pyewang Fortress (폐왕성) is the oldest surviving fortress in Geoje. First built during the Silla Dynasty, Pyewang fortress later served the fortress refuge for the King Uijong the 18th king of the Goryeo dynasty, while escaping from a military coup. Pyewang fortress is located in Dundeok-myeon. Pyewang fortress is regarded as the South Gyeongsang Province's 11th cultural treasure, and National Historical Site no. 509. Okpo Great Victory Park[edit] Okpo Great Victory Park is located in Okpo2Dong within Geoje. It commemorates the great victory over the invading Japanese navy by the honored general Yi Sun-sin on May 7, 1592. Blue Horse (Poet) Museum[edit] The Blue Horse (Cheongma, 청마) is a cultural exhibition and preserved birthplace museum of the poet "Blue Horse". It is located in Bangha village, Dundeokmyeon. Jisimdo[edit] Jisimdo (지심도) is an island of the east coast of Geoje. It is visited primarily for its vast amount of Camellia vegetation. Although damaged by Maemi typhoon, the camellias have mostly returned. It is also a site of a Japanese military installation, from the occupation of the early 20th century. Museums[edit] Geoje Themepark Museum Haegeumgang Theme Museum[edit] Haegeumgang Theme Museum (해금강테마박물관) is a museum of travel during the 1950s to the 1970s. It is located in Galgot village, Nambumyeon (거제시 남부면 갈곶리). Geoje Shipbuilding Marine Cultural Center[edit] The Geoje Shipbuilding Marine Cultural Center is an independently established combination of a Fishing Village Folk Museum and Shipbuilding Theme park museum located in Jisepo village, Ilunmyeon (지세포리, 일운면). The Fishing Village Folk Museum covers two floors, including 4 exhibits: "The living sea/Traditions of the sea" and "Ocean experience/Renaissance of the sea". Shipbuilding Theme park museum also covers two floors, including 5 exhibits: "Children's Shipbuilding yard/Dock 1" The history of sailing vessels/Dock 2 Shipbuilding technology/Dock 3 The future of the oceans/ Movie theatre Geoje Museum[edit] Geoje Museum (거제박물관) is located in Okpo. It features local artifacts used over the centuries by the people of Geoje. Natural Attractions[edit] Hill of Wind[edit] Hill of Wind overlooking South Sea The Hill of Wind (바람의 언덕) is located in Galgot village, Nambumyeon (거제시 남부면 갈곶리). It overlooks South Sea and there is a strong wind. A windmill is set on top of hill. It became famous after 2 Days & 1 Night, where one of the most popular Korean TV shows was filmed. Haegeumgang[edit] Haegeumgang (해금강) Haegeumgang (해금강) is named for resemblance of the Haegeum mountain in North Korea. It is a primary tourist destinations in all of Geoje. Oedo and Naedo[edit] Oedo Island (외도) Oedo (외도) and Naedo (내도) are two islands located in the southeast of Geoje island and of the two, Oedo hosts the second most visited attraction in all of Geoje, the expansive botanical gardens of Botania. Sanbangsan Botanical Garden[edit] Sanbangsan Botanical Garden (산방산비원) is a botanical garden in Sanbang-ri. This garden has many flower and tree varieties. Due to its remote location, it is much less busy than other botanical gardens. Mundong Waterfall[edit] Mundong Waterfall (문동폭포) is a small waterfall located above the Mundong Reservoir. It features trails and picnic areas at this location. Gonggoji[edit] Gonggoji (공곶이) is a mountain side garden located opposite Naedo island. It features Camellia trees, and daffodil fields. Due to there being no road access, you must walk to get to this location. Beaches[edit] Gujora Beach 구조라 해수욕장 Myeongsa Beach 명사 해수욕장 Hakdong Pebble Beach학동 흑진주 몽돌해변 Yeocha Pebble Beach 여차몽돌 해수욕장 Heungnam Beach 흥남 해수욕장 Wahyeon Sand Forest와현 모래숲해변 Hwangpo Beach 황포 해수욕장 Guyeong Beach 구영 해수욕장 Hammok Beach 함목 해수욕장 Jukrim Beach 죽림 해수욕장 Deokpo Beach 덕포 해수욕장 Nongso Pebble Beach 농소몽돌 해수욕장 Mulan Beach 물안 해수욕장 Shipbuilding[edit] Shipbuilding in Gohyeon 고현의 삼성조선소 There are various shipbuilding docks which provide tours from the Daewoo and Samsung corporation located in both Gohyeon and Okpo. Resorts[edit] Daemyeong Resort[edit] Daemyeong Resort is located in Ilun-myeon. It has various rooms. It offers a choice of several restaurants, karaoke rooms, billiards, table tennis and other entertainment options. There also the Ocean Bay Water Park on location, and the Marina Bay offers yacht and motor boat rentals. Other Recreational Activities[edit] Geoje offers an abundance of trails that can be used to hike, cycle, and some are suitable for ATV use.

Administrative divisions

[edit] Yugyo Fishing port According to a 2014 study, Geoje's Korean population was 243,736, and the foreign national population was 12,240. Although Gohyeon-dong is the fifth smallest of the dongs, it is the largest in population at 40,400. The cumulative area of Geoje is 402.3 km2, with Dongbu-myeon (동부면) being the widest, and Majeon-dong (마전동) being the narrowest. In 2008 Shinhyeon-eup (신현읍) was abolished, and in its place a new town was installed. It now divided into the separate dongs of Gohyeon-dong, Jangpyeong-dong, Sangmundong-dong, and Suyang-dong The industrial area of Geoje has the highest man to women worker ratio in South Gyeongsang. Myeon·Dong Hangeul Hanja Area(km2) Population Map Geoje-myeon 거제면 巨濟面 37.30 7,114 Map of Geoje in Korean Nambu-myeon 남부면 南部面 31.87 1,945 Dongbu-myeon 동부면 東部面 52.50 3,682 Dundeok-myeon 둔덕면 屯德面 33.78 3,693 Sadeung-myeon 사등면 沙等面 34.69 9,578 Yeoncho-myeon 연초면 延草面 40.14 10,038 Ilun-myeon 일운면 一運面 30.50 7,468 Jangmok-myeon 장목면 長木面 36.89 5,410 Hacheong-myeon 하청면 河淸面 29.10 5,148 Gohyeon-dong (Geoje city proper) 고현동 古縣洞 5.14 40,400 Sangmun-dong (Geoje city proper) 상문동 上門洞 20.97 21,783 Suyang-dong (Geoje city proper) 수양동 水良洞 11.15 14,433 Jangpyeong-dong (Geoje City proper) 장평동 長坪洞 6.98 29,867 Neungpo-dong 능포동 菱浦洞 3.21 12,816 Aju-dong 아주동 鵝州洞 12.45 13,557 Okpo 1-dong 옥포1동 玉浦1洞 2.26 10,560 Okpo 2-dong 옥포2동 玉浦2洞 8.61 30,250 Jangseungpo-dong 장승포동 長承浦洞 2.15 4,409 Majeon-dong (Jangseungpo southside) 마전동 麻田洞 1.92 5,673

Geography

[edit] Geoje covers an area of 401.63 square kilometres (155.07 sq mi), encompassing Geoje-do (383.44 square kilometres (148.05 sq mi)) and 60 other small islets, of which 10 are inhabited. The main island is joined to land by two bridges from nearby Tongyeong. It is also connected via a series of bridges and underwater tunnels to Gadeokdo, then Busan, named the Busan–Geoje Bridge. A proposal has been made to connect Geoje to Masan by another set of bridges and tunnels named Yi Sun-sin Great Bridge (이순신대교). Climate[edit] Geoje experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa/Cwa), and temperatures reaching below zero degrees Celsius in winter are frequent during December to February. However, the island is kept relatively warm by the influence of warm ocean currents. Typhoon Hinnamnor made landfall over the city. The eye centre directly passed over the city as a category 2 at 5:50 AM on September 6, 2022, leaving severe destruction around, including flooding. Climate data for Geoje (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1972–present) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 19.3(66.7) 19.4(66.9) 24.2(75.6) 27.9(82.2) 34.4(93.9) 33.5(92.3) 38.6(101.5) 37.4(99.3) 34.2(93.6) 29.9(85.8) 25.8(78.4) 19.4(66.9) 38.6(101.5) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.3(45.1) 9.4(48.9) 13.5(56.3) 18.6(65.5) 23.1(73.6) 25.8(78.4) 28.3(82.9) 29.9(85.8) 26.5(79.7) 22.0(71.6) 15.7(60.3) 9.5(49.1) 19.1(66.4) Daily mean °C (°F) 2.6(36.7) 4.4(39.9) 8.4(47.1) 13.4(56.1) 17.9(64.2) 21.2(70.2) 24.8(76.6) 26.0(78.8) 22.0(71.6) 16.7(62.1) 10.6(51.1) 4.7(40.5) 14.4(57.9) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.4(29.5) −0.2(31.6) 3.5(38.3) 8.3(46.9) 13.0(55.4) 17.4(63.3) 22.1(71.8) 22.9(73.2) 18.2(64.8) 12.2(54.0) 6.1(43.0) 0.4(32.7) 10.2(50.4) Record low °C (°F) −10.4(13.3) −10.1(13.8) −8.0(17.6) −1.4(29.5) 4.8(40.6) 8.2(46.8) 13.8(56.8) 12.4(54.3) 8.6(47.5) 1.0(33.8) −5.2(22.6) −8.9(16.0) −10.4(13.3) Average precipitation mm (inches) 40.4(1.59) 60.5(2.38) 112.2(4.42) 177.2(6.98) 203.0(7.99) 237.1(9.33) 367.6(14.47) 330.4(13.01) 209.5(8.25) 96.4(3.80) 59.0(2.32) 37.0(1.46) 1,930.3(76.00) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 4.8 5.4 7.8 9.2 9.0 10.6 14.3 11.9 9.0 5.0 6.1 4.5 97.6 Average relative humidity (%) 54.0 54.4 58.5 60.0 65.3 73.4 79.5 76.6 73.3 67.6 63.4 56.8 65.2 Mean monthly sunshine hours 169.9 178.0 204.0 217.4 233.2 182.7 153.4 182.1 168.5 195.1 165.3 166.4 2,216 Percentage possible sunshine 52.0 57.8 54.2 55.3 53.5 43.1 33.4 43.9 46.4 58.8 53.4 55.0 49.5 Source: Korea Meteorological Administration (percent sunshine 1981–2010)

Produce

[edit] Due to Geoje's coastal sub-tropical location, the area grows and harvests several different crops, some of which are uncommon in most of Korea. Some of these crops include yuja, pineapples, and mushrooms. Being an island also provides an abundance of seafood that is collected locally.

Islands of Geoje

[edit] See also: Islands of South Korea Geoje (거제도; 巨濟島) Oedo Galgotdo (Haegeumgang) Chilcheondo Jisimdo Gajodo Haegando Sandaldo Hawdo

Education

[edit] There is an international school, International School of Koje (거제국제외국인학교).

Transport

[edit] The city does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is Gimhae International Airport, located 60 km (37 mi) north east of Geoje.

Sister cities

[edit] Longjing, Jilin, China Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China Qidong, Jiangsu, China Guam, United States Yame, Fukuoka, Japan Domestic[edit] Gurye County, South Jeolla Province Hadong County, South Gyeongsang Province