Port Hamilton

Port Hamilton or Komundo, officially Geomun-do in Korean (Hangul: 거문도 [Geomun-do], Hanja: 巨文島 or 巨門島) is a small group of islands in the Jeju Strait off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, located approximately at 34°1′35″N 127°18′45″E / 34.02639°N 127.31250°E / 34.02639; 127.31250. The islands are 12 square kilometres. There are three principal islands, the two larger ones, Sodo to the west (Seo-do, 서도, 西島) and Sunhodo to the east (Dong-do, 동도, 東島) forming a harbor with the smaller island in the center. On this central island, Observatory Island (or Go-do, 고도, 古島), there was a British naval base from 1885 to 1887.

Today, the islands form a part of Samsan District, Yeosu City, South Jeolla Province, with the Samsan District offices located on Observation Island. The islands are also part of the Dadohaehaesang National Park.

History

Port Hamilton was surveyed in 1845 by British naval officer Sir Edward Belcher in HMS Samarang and was named after the then secretary of the Admiralty, Captain W. A. B. Hamilton. The spacious harbour was also noted for its strategic importance by others, such as Russian Vice-Admiral Yevfimy Putyatin, who visited the islands several times and obtained permission from natives in 1857 to establish a coal depot, though due to delays in the delivery of the coal, the plan was abandoned.