Jeju Island - Saishuto

It is the largest island at the southern end of Korea (Republic of Korea). It is roughly elliptical in shape, measuring 73 km from east to west and 41 km from north to south, and has 62 islands attached to it. Hallasan (1,950 meters) is an aspite volcano that rises in the center of the island, and its base extends to the coast. The rivers split into north and south at the watershed of Hallasan, and underground water forms springs and waterfalls on the coast. The average annual temperature is 14.6°C, the highest in Korea, and the annual precipitation is 1,440 mm, making it the rainiest area. Storms occur on one third of the year, and weathered basalt is ubiquitous throughout the island, so the islanders build stone walls to surround their houses, fields, and livestock sheds. Since ancient times, the number of women has exceeded the number of men, and women have been active in everything from fishing to commerce and farming. This is why Jeju Island is called Samda Island, which means Pungda, Seokda, and Nyuda. Agricultural products include wheat, foxtail millet, rice, and sweet potatoes, and marine products include mackerel, sea bream, abalone, and seaweed. Mandarin oranges, which are produced at 160,000 tons per year, are the second largest produce in Jeju Island after apples. Since the 1970s, livestock farming has expanded remarkably, and four large ranches with a capacity of 2,000 head of cattle have been established. Jeju horses and sheep are also famous for grazing. The north-south transverse road that connects Jeju City and Seogwipo City through Hallasan was opened in 1962, and the second transverse road between Jungmun-ri and Jeju City was completed to the west of that, significantly reducing travel time and contributing to industrial development. As a result, Seogwipo City attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists per year, and is developing into a tourist city. The government is also working on a long-term plan to develop Jeju Island as an international tourist destination.

[Mori Seiu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

韓国（大韓民国）南端にある最大の島。東西73キロメートル、南北41キロメートルのほぼ楕円(だえん)形をなし、62の付属島をもつ。漢拏山(かんださん／ハルラサン)（1950メートル）は島の中央にそびえるアスピーテ火山で、裾野(すその)は海岸にまで延びている。河川は漢拏山の分水嶺(ぶんすいれい)を境に南北に分かれ、伏流し海岸で湧泉(ゆうせん)や滝をつくっている。年平均気温は14.6℃で韓国最高、年降水量も1440ミリメートルと最多雨地域である。暴風日数は年間の3分の1もあり、島の至る所に風化した玄武岩石が遍在するので、島民は石垣を築き、家屋、田畑、畜舎を囲んでいる。古来、女性数が男性数を上回り、漁労、商取引、農耕に至るまで女性の活動が活発である。済州島が風多、石多、女多の三多島とよばれる理由である。農産物としては麦類、アワ、米、サツマイモ、水産物ではサバ、タイ、アワビ、海藻類がある。とくにミカンの生産量は年間16万トンと量的にはリンゴに次ぐが、済州島の主要産物である。1970年以降、牧畜業の拡大が目覚ましく、ウシ2000頭規模の大牧場が4か所できている。済州ウマとヒツジの放牧も有名である。漢拏山を通り済州市と西帰浦市をつなぐ南北横断道路が1962年に開通し、その西側に中文里―済州市間の第二横断道路が完成するに伴い、交通時間が大幅に短縮され、産業発展にも役だっている。これにより西帰浦市には年間数十万の観光客が集まり、観光都市として発展しつつある。また政府は済州島を国際観光地として開発する長期計画を進めている。

［森　聖雨］

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