Baengnyeong Island
Korean name
Hangul	백령도
Hanja	白翎島
Revised Romanization	Baengnyeongdo
McCune–Reischauer	Paengnyŏngdo

Baengnyeong Island (sometimes spelled Baekryeong) is an island in Ongjin County, Incheon, South Korea located near the Northern Limit Line, which is the maritime demarcation between North and South Korea.

The meaning of its name is "white wing island", since the island resembles an Ibis flying with the wings spread.^[1]

Numerous North Korean defectors have boated here to escape economic and political conditions in their homeland.

South Korean Natural Treasures #391–#393 are located on Baengnyeong Island.

[edit] Overview

Baengnyeong island in NASA Landsat imagery

Baengnyeong Island is the westermost point of South Korea. Travel time by boat to the island from Incheon is about four hours.^[2]

Changsan Cape in Ryongyon, North Korea can be seen from Baengnyeong on clear days.

[edit] Environment

The Chinese egret, which is considered to be one of the fifty rarest birds in the world, can be found here. Seals also make their homes on the beaches. ^[2]

[edit] Religion

Owing to the geographical location, Christianity went through Baengnyeong Island ahead of other Korean regions. After the Gabo Reform, Kim Seong Jin was exiled to this island, and the first church in Korea was established in 1896. There are ten churches in this small island at the present time.

[edit] References

1. ^ "네이버 :: 백과사전". 네이버. http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=72533. Retrieved 2006-05-16. 
2. ^ ^{a b} (Korean)한국의 섬 (Islands of Korea)

[edit] External links

• Official site (in Korean)
• 2nd official site (in Korean)

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Coordinates: 37°58′N 124°39′E / 37.967°N 124.65°E / 37.967; 124.65.