Marado Facts for Kids

Marado, also known as Mara Island, is the southernmost island of South Korea. It's a small, beautiful island located about 11 kilometers (about 7 miles) from Moseolpo harbor. This harbor is on the south coast of Jeju Island. Marado is tiny, only about 0.298 square kilometers (0.115 square miles) in size. The whole island is covered in natural grass, giving it a unique and wild feel. You can explore the entire island in about an hour!

Discovering Marado Island
The Story of Marado's Past
Cool Places to See on Marado
Images for kids
See also

Discovering Marado Island

Marado Island is part of Jeju Island, specifically in a place called Seogwipo City. About 107 people live on Marado, making up around 30 families. If you look at Marado from above, it looks just like a sweet potato! The wind blows strongly on Marado all year round. Because of this, many trees, houses, and even the grass grow low to the ground. The island's coast has tall, steep cliffs. These cliffs have many holes carved into them by the powerful ocean waves. Marado itself is so special that it was named a natural monument of South Korea in the year 2000.

The Story of Marado's Past

Long ago, Marado was called Keum Island. In Korean, "Keum" means "forbidden." People couldn't easily go to this island because the weather was very unpredictable and the sea was often rough. But in 1883, people started to live on Marado. A traditional story tells of a man named Kim Sung Oh. He had lost all his money from gambling. Kim Sung Oh suggested to the local leader that people should be allowed to move to Marado. The leader agreed, and so Kim and others came to Marado. They worked hard to farm and make the island their home.

Cool Places to See on Marado

Besides its amazing natural beauty, Marado has several interesting spots to visit.

Southernmost Point Monument

First, you can find a special monument on the island. This monument marks the absolute southernmost point of South Korea. It's a great spot for photos!

Chocolate Museum

Another fun place is a small building called the 'Chocolate Museum'. It's a unique landmark on the island that many visitors enjoy.

Janggun Rock

There's also a famous rock known as 'Janggun Rock'. In Korean, "Janggun" means "the General." The people of Marado believe this rock protects their island. They see it as a guardian watching over them.