General Information

About Geoje Island

The name Geoje comes from an ancient Chinese character, meaning "Greatly Bestowing & Nurturing". Geoje-do or Geoje Island (alternative spelling Koje) is Korea’s second largest island. Located off the southern coast of Gyeongsangnam province, the island is joined to land by bridges to Busan and Tongyeong. Since December 2010, the Geoga Bridge has provided a road link to Busan. Geoje-si consists of Geoje-do Island and 73 other islands (10 inhabited) and covers an area of 402.06 square kilometres. As of end of February, 2014, its population includes 242,545 Korean nationals and 11,796 foreign nationals.

Geoje Island features several natural harbors. Shipbuilding is the largest industry on the island. The second and third largest shipyards in South Korea are both located on the island. Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, DSME, is located in Okpo and Samsung Heavy Industries, SHI, in the island’s largest district of Gohyeon.

For many, Geoje Island is considered a holiday destination. There are a number of beaches on the island, of which Deokpo, Wahyeon, Heungnam and Gujora Beach are some of the most popular.

Geoje has a very mountainous terrain. Famous mountains of Geoje include Mt Guksabong (462m) and Mt Daegeumsan (437m).

Korea has four distinct seasons. The official summer months are July and August. The rainy season usually occurs around July or August. Weather warnings for high yellow sand index, pollen count and typhoons in the area can be followed on http://web.kma.go.kr/eng/ and www.w365.com. For information on pollution (real-time air quality index), go to http://aqicn.org/city/korea/gyeongnam/geoje-si/

Korea is nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Public Holidays and Festivals 

JANUARY
New  Year’s Day  (1 January)  Bells ring  out  at  midnight.
New  Year  Sunrise Festival
International Penguin Swimming Festival

FEBRUARY
Lunar New  Year  (falls on  different dates each year according to the  lunar calendar)
Geoje Gorosoe Festival and  Marathon

MARCH
Independence Movement Day  (1 March)

APRIL
Daegeumsan Azalea Festival
Geoje Spring Flower & Mullet  Festival

MAY
Children’s Day  (5 May) Buddha’s Birthday
Rose Festival

JUNE
Memorial Day  (6 June) Okpo  Sea  Battle Festival

JULY
Constitution Day  (17  July)  commemorates the   founding of  the Republic of South Korea in 1948. Marine Festival

AUGUST
Liberation Day  (15  August)

SEPTEMBER
Chuseok or  Korean Thanksgiving. The Harvest Moon  Festival is a three day  holiday when families get  together and  visit  their ancestors’ graves.

OCTOBER
National Foundation Day  (3 October)  Dangun, the  legendary founder of the  Korean nation, was supposedly born on this day in 2333 BC.
Geoje Art  Festival 
Jinju  Lantern Festival 
Citizens’ Day  Event

NOVEMBER
Geoje Island Flower Festival
11.11 Pepero Day. Chocolate stick day,  similar to Valentine’s day.

DECEMBER
Christmas Day  (25  December) Cod  & Seafood Festival
The Highlights of Korean Culture and Etiquette 

> Koreans list their family name first, then their given name, which usually consists of two syllables. Korean women do not change their family names after marriage.

> Always remove your shoes before entering a Korean home.

> Traditionally, sharing food from one bowl is thought to make relationships closer.

> Koreans love light colours. Never use red ink when writing a person’s name. Red is only used for a deceased person.

> Patting children on the back or on the head expresses warm feelings.

> The Korean language uses honorific and makes a distinction between formal and casual expressions. Formal expressions usually end with “Yo” and are used towards elders or unfamiliar people. Informal expressions are used between friends.

> Blowing one’s nose in front of others is considered bad manners, especially at the dinner table.

> Throughout its long history, Korea has respected the elderly. It’s very common in Korea to see younger people give their seats to older people on the bus. When you give something to, or receive something from, someone older, you should use two hands.

> While talking with someone older, it is considered very rude to look directly at them.