Exploring the Ecological Value of Gyeongryulbiyeoldo
▲ A group photo of 28 participants in front of the Gyeongryulbiyeoldo Lighthouse. The banner reads 'Exploring Social Solidarity for Ecological Value Verification and Sustainable Development.'
This was the first official entry of the year, organized by the Gyeongryulbiyeoldo Love Movement Headquarters, the National Park, and local stakeholders.
Honestly, I only slept three hours the night before. I tossed and turned all night, thinking about entering Gyeongryulbiyeoldo.
They say the success rate of entering is one in five, and someone on the boat laughed and said, "Our team must have accumulated good fortune over five generations." Laughter erupted.
▲ A view of Gyeongryulbiyeoldo from the returning boat. The entire island comes into view under the blue sky, with the white lighthouse and communication facilities standing guard today.
Gyeongryulbiyeoldo, known as the Dokdo of the West Sea, is located 70 km from Sinjin Port in Ganhung-myeon, Taean-gun. It consists of three islands: Bukgyeongryulbi, Donggyeongryulbi, and Seogyeongryulbi, along with nine islets. Seogyeongryulbi is one of 23 islands that mark Korea's territorial waters, located 268 km from China's Shandong Peninsula. About 20% of Korea's seafood is produced in these waters, which are home to over 590 species of marine life. While Bukgyeongryulbi is public land (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries), Donggyeongryulbi and Seogyeongryulbi remain privately owned. This island, born from an underwater volcanic eruption 70 million years ago, shows that the statement 'If Dokdo is in the East Sea, Gyeongryulbiyeoldo is in the West Sea' is not an exaggeration.
▲ Seagulls perched on the rocky cliffs of Gyeongryulbiyeoldo, the true guardians of this island long before humans.
The seagulls opened their round eyes wide as the island came into view. It was cold on the boat, but as soon as I stepped on land, warm sunlight greeted me. The scent welcomed us even before we arrived. The unique aroma that only birds can create filled the island. Ah, this is not a human island.
▲ (Left) The camellia forest with red flowers, (Right) The yellow rapeseed flowers, all planted by birds bringing seeds. Nature was blooming by itself on this untouched island.
▲ On the hill covered with rapeseed flowers, the five characters 'Gyeongryulbiyeoldo' are engraved on black granite.
Prohibition of biological and resource extraction was evident from the first sight of the black sign. 'Designated Island No. 125, Bukgyeongryulbi.' It warned that violations could lead to up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won. Bukgyeongryulbi was designated as a specific island in 2002, while Donggyeongryulbi and Seogyeongryulbi were designated in 2016. Due to its small closed ecosystem, it can be damaged by even minor external interference, and once damaged, it is nearly impossible to restore. The four characters 'Gyeongryulbiyeoldo' were heavily engraved on the black granite stele under the West Sea sky.
▲ Officials in the Gyeongryulbiyeoldo lighthouse area explaining the operational status of the island.
People enduring with rainwater
We stood in the lighthouse area of Bukgyeongryulbi. The white lighthouse stood silently against the cloudy sky. There are only four staff members to maintain this place, working in shifts of 15 days. The lighthouse keeper explained, "We can only use water for daily living when it rains. We are using bottled water now. During winter, when there are many cloudy days, solar power is insufficient, so we run a generator to charge the batteries. It was first lit in 1909, unmanned in 1994, and manned again in 2015. Other agencies were supposed to be stationed here, but it seems we are the only ones who have come in first."
▲ Former Catholic University Professor Seo Jong-cheol explaining the geological characteristics and geopolitical significance of Gyeongryulbiyeoldo.
After lunch, Professor Seo continued his explanation. "The West Sea doesn't go deeper than 90 meters. A 15-story apartment is about 40 meters. Since the sea depth here is 40 meters, it means an apartment won't sink here." Laughter followed, but his next words were serious. "Chinese fishing boats frequently appear right in front of us."
▲ Yoon Hyun-don, president of the Gyeongryulbiyeoldo Love Movement Headquarters, explaining the value and importance of conservation of the island to participants at the site.
A person who funded the boat
Yoon Hyun-don, who led the exploration, paid for the boat out of his own pocket. While the National Park provided lunch boxes, the shipping costs came solely from his funds. "Gyeongryulbiyeoldo is the future of Taean, or rather, South Korea. It should be a nature-based tourist destination, not a development-based one. For this to happen, the public needs to know about this island. Also, that this sea is responsible for 20% of our seafood."
On that day, it was also revealed that Google Maps once listed this island with the Chinese name 'Gongyeolbyeoldo (空列飛列島)', which was corrected after issues were raised. In this era, even a name can shake territorial claims.
Meanwhile, the Gyeongryulbiyeoldo National Management Coastal Port is under construction with a budget of 48 billion won, aiming for completion by 2030. Once the port is established, 1,500-ton vessels will be able to dock, allowing the general public to visit this island properly.
▲ On the way back to Anheung Port, three dolphins appeared, surprising everyone.
The monk saw the dolphins
At 2 PM, we turned the boat towards Seogyeongryulbi. The Taegeukgi, marking the westernmost point of our country, fluttered in the wind. Everyone took pictures in front of it silently. Words were unnecessary. It was enough to feel in our hearts where the end of our territorial waters lies and how precious this land is.
On the return journey, we heard on the broadcast that dolphins had appeared. I rushed to the deck, but all I saw was a buoy. The monk next to me was delighted, saying he saw three.
Gyeongryulbiyeoldo, known by many names such as 'Island of Life', 'Dokdo of the West Sea', and 'Specific Island No. 125', is still guarded today by seagulls and four lighthouse keepers. And one person who willingly spends his own money to promote this island. Just as birds create flower gardens by bringing seeds, these people are gradually planting this island in the world.
I hope the fortune accumulated over five generations is not wasted.
※ Date of coverage: April 22, 2026
Source :https://blog.naver.com/sinmunman/224263966263
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