Marado

Marado

Marado from a distance
Location of Marado within South Korea
Geography
Coordinates	33°07′N 126°16′E / 33.117°N 126.267°E / 33.117; 126.267Coordinates: 33°07′N 126°16′E / 33.117°N 126.267°E / 33.117; 126.267
Adjacent bodies of water	Korean Strait
Area	0.3 km2 (0.12 sq mi)
Coastline	4.2 km (2.61 mi)
Administration
South Korea
Demographics
Population	90

Marado or Mara Island is an island 8 km (5.0 mi) off the south coast of Jeju, in southernmost South Korea, having an area of 0.3 km² (0.12 sq mi). It is home to about 90 people, and has long been known for its population being composed of strong women and docile men. It's becoming a popular tourist destination, thanks to the many unusual rock formations, and is connected to the mainland by two regular ferries and numerous excursion boats.

Mara-do is within the administrative boundaries of Daejeong Township () in Seogwipo City, and is included, along with (Gapado), in Gapa-ri, and is South Korea's southernmost point.

Because of its subtropical marine habitat the island is a natural reserve. It was designated as National Monument no. 423 (천연기념물 제423호) on July 18, 2000.

Marado was originally uninhabited. It was known as Keumdo (금도,禁島), which means forbidden island. According to a Choson Ilbo article published by Lee Kyu-tae in 1967, the island was first occupied by a woman named Kim Seong-oh (김성오,金成五) and her brothers in 1880. As a poor peasant with no land to farm, Kim Seong-oh decided to move to the island when her father mentioned the island on his deathbed. So Kim left Jeju with her two brothers, farming tools, and some seeds. They had to circle the island around three times, because they couldn't find a place to dock their boat. After about 10 years, they were joined by two stranded fishermen from Torishima (도리섬,鳥島), in the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

However, documents from Jeju county also had another story on Marado. According to this story, the first residents came to live on Marado in 1883. One Mr. Kim originally living in Daejeong gol, a small village in Jeju, ran through his all fortune. His relatives proposed to let them move to Marado. Sim Hyun Taek, pastor of Jeju at that time, permitted them to do so, and Marado became inhabited for the first time. After independence, it was administered by Gapa-ri, Daejeong-eup of Jeju, and registered as an independent township(ri) called Marari.

Marado is an island with an exceptionally rocky coastline; sea caves are found on the island as well. The overall length of the island's coastline is 4.2 km (2.6 mi). There is a walking track around the island offering a scenic view of the coast. Walking on foot around the island takes about one hour.