Oryukdo Islets, Busan

Oryukdo, Busan, is a row of rocky islets extending neatly south-southeast from Seungdumal, a point on the mainland along Busan's northern shore. The name Oryukdo ("five-six islands") is recorded in the topography section of the Dongnaebuji (東萊府誌), compiled in 1740: "Oryukdo lies east of Jeolyeongdo Island. The peaks and hills are strangely shaped and stand in a row in the sea; seen from the east they form six peaks, and seen from the west, five, and so it is named accordingly." As this record shows, the name derives from the fact that the islets appear differently depending on the viewer's position and direction. Counting from the one nearest Seungdumal, the islets are arranged in the order Usakdo (which splits into Bangpaeseom and Solseom at high tide), Suriseom, Songgotseom, Gulseom and Deungdaeseom. Each islet combines near-vertical sea cliffs, wave-cut platforms and sea caves of every shape formed by wave erosion—strange and varied marine landforms—together with plants and animals that have grown undisturbed by human interference for a long time, and the deep blue sea, presenting a beautiful natural landscape. Along with the mystery of the islets appearing as either five or six in number, records show that the sea route in front of Oryukdo was used by Jang Bogo, the "Sea King" of the Silla period, for trade, and it remains today one of the main maritime gateways into Korea. Poets and men of letters have continually composed verses on the islets since ancient times, and many songs and poems on the theme of Oryukdo have been passed down; for a long time the islets have served as an emotional "symbol of Busan" for its citizens, making them an island of great symbolic significance and a beautiful scenic site representative of Busan.

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Where it is

Region

Nam-gu, Busan

Designation

Scenic Site · 명승