Heuksando is an island of 21.26㎢, 97.2㎞ southwest of Mokpo, Jeollanamdo. It gained its name, meaning black mountain island, because its rugged mountain ranges make the island look black. The Heuksan archipelago consists of 68 islands and islets, including the main island of Heuksando and Hongdo, Daedundo, Yeonsando, and Damuldo. Heuksando plays a central part in connecting all islands of the archipelago.
Due to its remote location at the end of Korea’s southwest coast, Heuksando was used as a penal colony. In 1876, Choi Ikhyeon (1833 – 1906) was exiled to Heuksando for opposing Joseon’s treaty with Japan. Previously in 1801, Jeong Yakjeon (1758 – 1816) was sent to Heuksando for believing in Catholicism, labeled a pagan religion, and he spent 14 years there. During his exile, Jeong established a school for children in the town of Sari and wrote Jasaneobo, Joseon’s first encyclopedia of fish, by researching the fish near Heuksando.
Once a penal colony, Heuksando now serves as a strategic base of Korea’s territorial waters. In addition, it is an advanced base for fisheries, a port of refuge for ships in case of an emergency, and a port of call for ships from surrounding islands.