Jejudo

This article is about the South Korean island. For the South Korean province, see Jeju Province. For the city, see Jeju City.
Jejudo
Native name: 제주도
Nickname: Sammu-samda-do = Island of no three kinds and many three kinds'

Image of Jejudo

Image of Jejudo

Map of Jejudo

Geography
Location East Asia
Archipelago Jeju
Area 1,848 km2 (714 sq mi)
Length 73 km (45.4 mi)
Width 31 km (19.3 mi)
Highest elevation 1,950 m (6,400 ft)
Highest point Hallasan
Administration
South Korea
Special Autonomous Province Jeju Special Autonomous Province
Largest settlement Jeju City (pop. 408,364)
Demographics
Population 583,284
Pop. density 316 /km2 (818 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Korean
Jejudo
Hangul 제주도
Hanja 濟州島
Revised Romanization Jejudo
McCune–Reischauer Chejudo

Jejudo (also known as Jeju Island) is the largest island off the coast of the Korean Peninsula, and the main island of Jeju Province of South Korea. The island lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of South Jeolla Province. The island contains the natural World Heritage Site Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes.[1] Jejudo has a temperate climate; even in winter, the temperature rarely falls below 0 °C (32 °F).

History

Historical names

Historically, the island has been called by many different names including:

Island of no three kinds, and many three kindsThis means it was originally labeled the island of triple abundance: Wind, stones, and women, and then added to its reputation the fact it does not have beggars, thieves, or locked gates. [6]

Before the Japanese annexation in 1910, the island was usually known as Quelpart to Europeans. The name apparently came from the first European ship to spot the island, the Dutch Quelpaert, which sighted it after being blown off course on its way to the Dutch trading base in Nagasaki, Japan, from Taiwan (then the Dutch colony of Formosa).

"According to Korean records, a fleet of seventy pirate craft attacked Quelpart Island and adjacent parts of the Korean peninsula in 1555."[7]

When Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910, Jeju then became known as Saishū, which is the Japanese reading of the hanja for Jeju.

Before 2000, when the Seoul government established the official Revised Romanization of Korean, Jejudo was spelled Cheju-do. Almost all written references to the island before that use that spelling.

Jeju Uprising

From April 3, 1948 to May 1949, the South Korean government conducted a brutal anticommunist campaign to suppress an attempted uprising on the island.[8][9] The main cause for the rebellion was the election scheduled for May 10, 1948, designed by the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea (UNTCOK) to create a new government for all of Korea. The elections were only planned for the south of the country, the half of the peninsula under UNTCOK control. Fearing that the elections would further reinforce division, guerrilla fighters for the South Korean Labor party (SKLP) reacted violently, attacking local police and rightist youth groups stationed on Jeju Island.[9][10]

Though atrocities were committed by both sides, the methods used by the South Korean government to suppress the rebels were especially cruel.[9][10][11] On one occasion, American soldiers discovered the bodies of ninety-seven men, women, and children, killed at the hand of government forces. On another, American soldiers caught police in the act of carrying out a gruesome execution of seventy-six villagers, including women and children.[9]

In the end, between 14,00 and 30,000 people died as a result of the rebellion, or up to 10% of the island’s total population.[9][11] Some 40,000 others fled to Japan to escape the fighting.[10][12] In the decades after the uprising, memory of the event was brutally suppressed by the government through strict punishment.[11] Only in 2006, more than 60 years after the rebellion, did the Korean government finally apologize for its role in the killings. Although the government simultaneously promised reparations, as of 2010, nothing had been done to this end.[13]

In 2008, bodies of victims of a massacre were discovered in a mass grave near Jeju International Airport.[14]

Process of formation

Formation processes of Jeju island

The adjacent picture shows formation processes of Jeju step by step.

※ After step 2 volcanic antivity had finished, there was no volcanism for about 100 thousand years.

Geography

Jejudo is a volcanic island, dominated by Hallasan: a volcano 1,950 metres (6,400 ft) high and the highest mountain in South Korea. The island measures approximately 73 kilometres (45 mi) across, east to west, and 41 kilometres (25 mi) from north to south.[16]

The island was created entirely from volcanic eruptions approximately 2 million years ago, during the time period extending from the Tertiary to the beginning of the Quaternary period, and consists chiefly of basalt and lava. The eruptions took place in the Cenozoic era. It has a humid subtropical climate, warmer than that of the rest of Korea, with four distinct weather seasons. Winters are cool and dry while summers are hot, humid, and sometimes rainy.

An area covering about 12% (224 square kilometres or 86 square miles) of Jejudo is known as Gotjawal Forest.[17] This area remained uncultivated until the 21st century, as its base of ʻAʻā lava made it difficult to develop for agriculture. Because this forest remained pristine for so long, it has a unique ecology.[18]

The forest is the main source of groundwater and thus the main water source for the half million people of the island, because rainwater penetrates directly into the aquifer through the cracks of the ʻAʻā lava under the forest. Gotjawal forest is considered an internationally important wetland under the Ramsar Convention by some researchers[19] because it is the habitat of unique species of plants and is the main source of water for the residents, although to date it has not been declared a Ramsar site.[20]

Climate

Climate data for Jeju City, Jejudo (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 8.3
(46.9)		 9.4
(48.9)		 12.8
(55)		 17.5
(63.5)		 21.6
(70.9)		 24.8
(76.6)		 29.0
(84.2)		 29.8
(85.6)		 25.8
(78.4)		 21.3
(70.3)		 16.0
(60.8)		 11.0
(51.8)		 18.9
(66)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.7
(42.3)		 6.4
(43.5)		 9.4
(48.9)		 13.8
(56.8)		 17.8
(64)		 21.5
(70.7)		 25.8
(78.4)		 26.8
(80.2)		 23.0
(73.4)		 18.2
(64.8)		 12.8
(55)		 8.1
(46.6)		 15.8
(60.4)
Average low °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8)		 3.6
(38.5)		 6.1
(43)		 10.2
(50.4)		 14.4
(57.9)		 18.7
(65.7)		 23.3
(73.9)		 24.3
(75.7)		 20.4
(68.7)		 15.1
(59.2)		 9.8
(49.6)		 5.3
(41.5)		 12.9
(55.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 65.2
(2.567)		 62.6
(2.465)		 88.6
(3.488)		 89.6
(3.528)		 96.4
(3.795)		 181.4
(7.142)		 239.9
(9.445)		 262.5
(10.335)		 221.6
(8.724)		 80.3
(3.161)		 61.9
(2.437)		 47.7
(1.878)		 1,497.6
(58.961)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 12.6 10.3 11.2 10.0 10.4 11.8 12.5 13.5 10.8 7.0 9.3 10.8 130.2
Average relative humidity (%) 65.3 64.9 64.9 66.5 70.4 76.8 78.3 76.5 73.7 66.9 65.1 65.1 69.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 70.4 105.4 158.9 194.4 211.9 170.9 195.6 195.6 161.7 178.5 126.0 84.8 1,854.1
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration[21]
Climate data for Seogwipo-si, Jejudo (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 10.7
(51.3)		 11.6
(52.9)		 14.4
(57.9)		 18.5
(65.3)		 22.0
(71.6)		 24.6
(76.3)		 28.3
(82.9)		 30.1
(86.2)		 27.4
(81.3)		 23.4
(74.1)		 18.2
(64.8)		 13.2
(55.8)		 20.2
(68.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.8
(44.2)		 7.8
(46)		 10.6
(51.1)		 14.8
(58.6)		 18.6
(65.5)		 21.7
(71.1)		 25.6
(78.1)		 27.1
(80.8)		 23.9
(75)		 19.3
(66.7)		 14.1
(57.4)		 9.3
(48.7)		 16.6
(61.9)
Average low °C (°F) 3.6
(38.5)		 4.4
(39.9)		 7.1
(44.8)		 11.3
(52.3)		 15.3
(59.5)		 19.2
(66.6)		 23.5
(74.3)		 24.6
(76.3)		 21.1
(70)		 15.9
(60.6)		 10.6
(51.1)		 5.9
(42.6)		 13.5
(56.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 61.0
(2.402)		 77.1
(3.035)		 131.2
(5.165)		 174.9
(6.886)		 205.8
(8.102)		 276.9
(10.902)		 309.8
(12.197)		 291.6
(11.48)		 196.6
(7.74)		 81.6
(3.213)		 71.4
(2.811)		 45.1
(1.776)		 1,923
(75.709)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 10.3 9.5 11.0 10.5 10.7 12.9 14.3 14.2 10.3 6.1 7.4 8.1 125.3
Average relative humidity (%) 62.8 62.1 62.4 64.5 69.9 78.2 84.1 79.0 72.5 63.9 63.2 62.2 68.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 152.2 152.6 174.0 190.9 199.0 144.2 142.1 184.2 176.1 207.1 170.5 161.8 2,054.7
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration[22]

Unusual weather event

In January 2016, a cold wave affected the region. Snow and frigid weather forced the cancellation of 1,200 flights on Jejudo, stranding approximately 90,300 passengers.[26]

Places of interest

Seongsan Ilchulbong or "Sunrise Peak"

Utilities

The island's power-grid is connected to mainland plants by the HVDC Haenam–Cheju, and electricity is also provided by generators located on the island. As of 2001, there were four power plants on Jeju, with more under planning and construction. The most notable of these are the gas-fired generators of Jeju Thermal Power Plant, located in Jeju City. The present-day generators of this plant were constructed from 1982 onwards, replacing earlier structures that dated from 1968.[27] As elsewhere in Korea, the power supply is overseen by the Korea Electric Power Corporation, or KEPCO.

In February 2012, the governor of the state of Hawaii (USA), Neil Abercrombie, and the director of the Electricity Market and Smart Grid Division at the Korea Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Choi Kyu-Chong, signed a letter of intent to share information about Smart Grid technology. The Jeju Smart Grid was initially installed in 6,000 homes in Gujwa-eup and is being expanded. South Korea is using the pilot program of the Smart Grid on Jejudo as the testing ground in order to implement a nationwide Smart Grid by 2030.[28]

Transportation

As of 2012, the Seoul – Jeju City air route is by a significant margin the world's busiest, with 10,156,000 passengers flown between the two cities that year.[29]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Unesco names World Heritage sites". BBC News. June 28, 2007. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  2. ↑ "The Island of Quelpart". JSTOR 198722.
  3. ↑ "Quelpart Island and Its People". JSTOR 208503.
  4. ↑ "The Queen of Quelparte".
  5. ↑ "The Name of Quelpaert Island".
  6. ↑ "Jeju Island Facts".
  7. ↑ Sansom, George (1961). A History of Japan, 1334–1615. Stanford University Press. p. 269. ISBN 0804705259.
  8. ↑ Hugh Deane (1999). The Korean War, 1945-1953. China Books&Periodicals, Inc. pp. 54–58.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Merrill, John (1980). "Cheju-do Rebellion". The Journal of Korean Studies: 139–197.
  10. 1 2 3 Deane, Hugh (1999). The Korean War 1945-1953. San Francisco: China Books and Periodicals Inc. pp. 54–58. ISBN 0-8351-2644-7.
  11. 1 2 3 Kim, Hun Joon (2014). The Massacre at Mt. Halla: Sixty Years of Truth Seeking in South Korea. Cornell University Press. pp. 13–41. ISBN 9780801452390.
  12. ↑ Hideko takayama in tokyo (June 19, 2000). "Ghosts Of Cheju". newsweek. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  13. ↑ O, John Kie-Chiang (1999). "Korean Politics: The Quest for Democratization and Economic Development". Cornell University Press.
  14. ↑ Song Jung Hee, Islanders still mourn April 3 massacre, Jeju Weekly, March 3, 2010
  15. ↑ "제주특별자치도 자연환경생태정보시스템". nature.jeju.go.kr. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  16. ↑ Map of Korea: Cheju Island The People's Korea. Accessed 8 July 2012
  17. ↑ Jeong, Gwang-jung, 2004, Gotjawal and the livelihood of Jeju's People, 2004, Jeju Educational College, V. 33, pp. 41–65. 정광중, 2004, 곶자왈과 제주인의 삶, 제주교육대학교 논문집. http://www.riss4u.net/link?id=A35499718, page 49
  18. ↑ Yim, Eun-young, 2007, Bryophyte Flora of Dongbaek-dongsan, Jeju-do, Cheju National University, M.A. thesis. 임은영, 2007, 제주도 동백동산의 선태식물상, 제주대학교 석사학위논문. http://www.riss4u.net/link?id=U10812496_003
  19. ↑ Jang, Yong-chang and Chanwon Lee, 2009, "Gotjawal Forest as an internationally important wetland," Journal of Korean Wetlands Studies, 2009, Vol 1.
  20. ↑ Ramsar site list at the Wayback Machine (archived January 14, 2009) Accessed June 2009
  21. ↑ "평년값자료(1981–2010) 제주(184)". Korea Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  22. ↑ "평년값자료(1981–2010) 서귀포(189)". Korea Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  23. ↑ "평년값자료(1981–2010) 성산(188)". Korea Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  24. ↑ "평년값자료(1981–2010) 고산(185)". Korea Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  25. ↑ "제주도상세기후특성집(2010) 윗세오름(871)". Jeju Regional Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  26. ↑ Ap, Tiffany (January 25, 2016). "Deaths, travel disruption as bitter cold grips Asia". CNN. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Jeju Thermal P/P". Korea Midland Power website. Archived from the original on June 16, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2005.
  28. ↑ "Korea and Hawaii join forces in Smart Grid venture". The Jeju Weekly. Feb 24, 2012. Retrieved Mar 5, 2012.
  29. ↑ http://www.amadeus.com/web/amadeus/en_1A-corporate/Amadeus-Home/News-and-events/News/2013_04_17_300-world-super-routes-attract/1319560217161-Page-AMAD_DetailPpal?assetid=1319526516400&assettype=PressRelease_C

Coordinates: 33°23′N 126°32′E / 33.38°N 126.53°E / 33.38; 126.53

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.