A historic and unprecedented concert is set to take place on Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo Island, widely referred to as the "Dokdo of the West Sea."

The Chungnam provincial government announced on the 25th that singer Kim Jang-hoon will hold a special concert at noon on the 26th near the lighthouse on Buk-Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo Island, located in Geunheung-myeon, Taean-gun.

This performance was organized to commemorate "Dokdo Day" on October 25 and to raise public awareness of the significance of South Korea's maritime territory and the value of Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo, often called the "Dokdo of the West Sea."

Marking the first-ever popular music performance on the island, Kim Jang-hoon—who has long taken the lead in defending Dokdo and promoting the importance of maritime territories—will deliver a special performance alongside the band "Hanguksaram."

Due to the docking conditions at Buk-Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo, the concert will be held without an in-person audience. However, to maximize public engagement and interest, it will be broadcast live via Kim Jang-hoon’s official YouTube channel and the province's official YouTube channel, "Chungnam TV."

A provincial official stated, "This performance will serve as a meaningful stage to introduce Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo—an island relatively unfamiliar to the general public—and highlight its crucial importance as maritime territory," urging widespread public interest and support.

Located approximately 55 kilometers west of Anheung Port in Taean, Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo was named for its resemblance to birds flying in a row. It consists of three main islands (North, West, and East) along with minor surrounding islets. With a total area of 514,603 square meters, it is approximately 2.7 times larger than Dokdo (187,554 square meters).

In particular, Seo-Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo, situated at the westernmost tip of the central West Sea, serves as a baseline determining the limits of South Korea's territorial waters (12 nautical miles) and Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nautical miles, EEZ), making it a strategic stronghold for defending maritime territory and protecting fishery resources.

Meanwhile, Governor Park Soo-hyun visited Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo on the 10th to inspect the progress of the port development project.

Designated as a national managed coastal port in July 2022, Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo Port was officially finalized in the master port plan in September of last year. Basic and detailed design services for the port development are currently underway, with completion scheduled for 2030.

Once completed, the province expects the port to function as a key base for safeguarding national territory, securing vessel safety during emergency shelters, and enabling rapid responses to illegal fishing by Chinese vessels by shortening dispatch distances for the Korea Coast Guard and fisheries guidance ships.

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